Panamaram/ Wayanad: A day-long operation to drive three wild elephants back into the forest concluded by evening on Friday, after the animals strayed into human settlements in Panamaram, Wayanad. The operation, led by the Rapid Response Team (RRT) of the South Wayanad Forest Division, lasted nearly 12 hours.

Typically, wild elephants that venture out at night return to the forest by morning. But on Friday, the trio, believed to have entered the area the previous night, failed to retreat by dawn. Alarmed by their prolonged presence, residents alerted forest officials, prompting the swift intervention of the RRT.

The elephants had roamed across several villages — including Nelliyambam, Nadavayal, Punchavayal, Pathiriyambam, Kayakkunnu, and Manalvayal — causing fear among the farming community already accustomed to frequent encounters with wild herds.

Forest officials began issuing warnings early in the morning, and patrol teams were deployed across the affected areas. According to Deputy Range Officer A Nijesh, two elephants were driven into the forest by 5 pm, while the last one was guided back just before dark.
South Wayanad DFO Ajith K Raman said the elephants had ventured nearly 8 km away from the forest. “The team, led by Chethalath Range Officer Rajeev Kumar, carried out a difficult and delicate mission without any untoward incidents,” he said. The animals were first spotted in a dense plantation near Kavadam. Local police and the Panamaram village panchayat staff supported the operation by regulating traffic and keeping people away from the danger zones.

While officials confirmed the return of the elephants to the forest, farmers remain anxious. They fear the animals could cross back into farmland at any time.

EK Sanathanan, a farmer from Punchavayal, said the presence of elephants had become a nightly routine. “By dusk, we leave the fields and roads to them. Earlier, we thought we could at least use the daytime, but now they are here even then. We’ve become prisoners of our own farms while the animals roam free,” he said.

In response, the forest department has intensified night patrolling and stationed the deployment of RRT units along the forest border zones.