Thiruvananthapuram: A report said that 283 wild elephants died in the forests of Kerala in the past two-and-half years. However, the deaths of five elephants have raised the suspicion of the Forest Department because the reasons for their deaths are unknown. The department has initiated a probe into the incidents.
The 283 deaths of wild elephants occurred between January 3, 2021 and June 28, 2023, said the report. The Kuttampuzha forest range had 17 deaths while Idamalayar forest range recorded 12. Athirappilly and Adimali forest ranges reported 10 deaths each.
The suspicious deaths of elephants occurred at Aralam and Devikulam areas, said the report. Though elephants have been killed in this area before, the reason of death for these five elephants could not be ascertained.
According to the report, officials of the Forest Department raised suspicions of poison traces in the carcasses of the five dead elephants.
The Vigilance wing of the Forest Department has recommended the Chief Wildlife Warden to carry a detailed examination of internal organs of elephants when found dead.
The major reason for most elephant deaths are from natural causes and accidents. Fight among elephants constitutes 32 deaths out of the total. Tragically electrocution has killed over 14 elephants according to the report. Two elephants got killed after they bit explosives.
Recently, wild elephants such as Arikomban are making headlines after it turned rogue and began attacking humans and human settlements. The government has failed to make a lasting peace among humans and wild elephants and prefer ad hoc solutions, which continue to bring misery both to humans and these wild animals.
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