Kuthiran launches wild elephant drive amid rising attacks

Kuthiran:  Efforts are underway to drive away a wild elephant that entered the residential area of Kuthiran. The region has been facing repeated elephant attacks over the past several days, disrupting everyday life. The elephant had once again wandered through the inhabited area last night and attacked a house.

Following the incident, the Forest Department has launched a mission to recapture the elephant and return it to the forest. Two trained kumki elephants — Vikram and Bharath — have been brought from Wayanad to assist in the operation. The plan is to drive the lone elephant back into the forest and erect solar fencing along the border. If that fails, the department is also considering the use of tranquilliser shots.

Frequent elephant intrusions have become a cause of concern in the area. On Thursday night alone, the elephant reportedly entered the locality four times. The animal turned aggressive after being provoked by barking dogs and charged at a nearby house, destroying a shed in the front yard. Regi, the house owner, urged the authorities to act immediately to end the recurring menace.

A forest watcher was injured in a previous elephant attack in the same region. An official Forest Department jeep was also damaged during patrol duty. Forest Minister AK Saseendran had visited the area earlier and assured prompt action. The arrival of the kumki elephants from Wayanad is part of the immediate follow-up measures.