Mananthavady: A day before the scheduled inauguration of a rope fencing in Chalikyath, located in the Kuruva division of the municipality, a wild tusker pulled it down and caused extensive crop damage. The crash guard rope fencing, installed by the Forest Department in the Kudalkkadavu–Palvelicham area, which spans across municipal limits and Thirunelli and is one of the worst affected by wildlife intrusion, has once again been targeted by a wild tusker.

The fencing, which passes through divisions 13, 14, and 15 of the municipality and a ward of the Thirunelli panchayat, was constructed using KIIFB funds amounting to ₹3.60 crores. The 4.5-kilometre-long fencing had significantly reduced wildlife intrusion in the area. However, farmers who began cultivation relying on the fencing are now anxious, as wild tuskers have damaged it multiple times.

In the past, the Forest Department has paid over ₹2 crores in compensation to farmers in the region. Wild elephants that swim across the river near Kuruva Island have frequently damaged agricultural crops in the area.

The fencing, erected along the forest border, was intended as a permanent solution. However, the wild tusker damaged around 12 metres of the completed fencing in a single night.

The tusker destroyed coconut trees, tapioca and plantain trees belonging to Shantha of Chalikyam hamlet and Prasad and Sanil in her neighbourhood, in addition to the paddy fields of farmers Thomas, Lasar and Angelo.

A wild tusker had previously destroyed rope fencing at Kudalkkadavu in April and Palvelicham in May. An elephant also damaged two pillars of the fencing while it was still under construction. Local residents had alerted authorities about flaws in the construction.