Wayanad: Fed up with frequent elephant invasions, residents of Chooralmala and Mundakkai staged a protest on Monday in front of the Mundakkai Forest Station. The protestors marched to the station demanding urgent steps to stop wild elephants from destroying crops and threatening lives.

Villagers said elephant herds have been entering farmlands and even residential areas, causing fear day and night. “We’re scared to step out even during the day. At night, we don’t feel safe inside our own homes,” said local resident C K Nuruddeen. He added that damaged solar fencing, once effective in keeping wildlife out, was ruined during a landslide and needs immediate repair.

People also raised concerns about the forest department staff working in risky conditions without proper safety gear, weapons, or functioning vehicles. “Sometimes we have to help push their broken-down jeep,” another resident said. 

The protest ended in the afternoon after forest officials promised to restore the damaged fencing with help from local residents. Similar to the recent community-driven effort in Neykuppa, locals and forest staff will now work together to install a temporary power fence along the forest border.

South Wayanad DFO Ajith K Raman said that work has already begun and is expected to be completed in a few days. “This is another example of how cooperation between people and the department can solve serious issues,” he said.