IDUKKI: A lone tusker that ventured into the tea estate killed a man at Pooppara in Idukki on Saturday. Infuriated local residents, along with the estate workers, blockaded the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway with the body to protest against the negligence of the authorities in not taking remedial measures to solve the worsening man-animal conflict.
The deceased, Velu, 55, was a watcher at the Puthuppara tea estate.The five-hour protest was withdrawn after Idukki RDO promised to take necessary action at the earliest to send the tusker back to the forest. Wild Life Warden Lakshmi R and Munnar DySP Pious George, who reached the spot, also promised to catch the tusker within 1 week time.
The incident happened on Saturday around 8.30 am. Velu, who was staying with his family at the Puthupara tea estate lane, was returning home when he was trapped in front of the lone tusker. Though he tried to escape, the elephant lifted him with its tusks and trampled him under its feet, killing him on the spot.The tusker was identified by local people as Murivalan Komban. When locals made huge sound, the elephant turned away and returned to forest.
Local residents say the aggressive tusker had killed at least five persons in the past.Police handed over Velu’s body to the relatives after the post-mortem. Anger against the Forest department was evident as officials failed to arrive at the scene only after the police.The man-animal conflict has become a regular feature in the Anayirankal, Moolathara areas. As many as 22 estate workers have lost their lives to animal attacks so far.
Various security measures like solar fencing, elephant trenches and the newly-introduced crash guard rope fencing have proved futile in stopping the man-animal conflicts.The UDF will hold a district-wide hartal on June 30 against the lackadaisical attitude of the government and the forest authorities in taking any stringent action against constant wild animal attacks.
Tiger attack: Locals block road in Valparai
Thrissur: Locals in Valparai on the Kerala and Tamil Nadu border went on a sit-in protest on the road on Saturday, seeking effective intervention to end man-animal conflict. A woman was attacked by a tiger on Friday evening at Valparai, which led to the agitation. Kailasavathi, 47, was attacked by a tiger at 6.30 pm, when she was washing clothes outside her house at Kanchamala. People gathered after hearing the sound of the tiger dragging the victim into the forest. They were shocked to see the beast mauling the victim. As the local people gathered and created a ruckus, it left the body of the woman and retreated into the forest. The local people informed the forest and police officials who arrived at the spot and took the body for autopsy. The local people also demanded security to their lives amidst the increasing wildlife attacks in these areas. According to the local people, it is the third case of tiger attack in two weeks.