Kolayad: A bison thundering down the road and a deer leaping into a hardware shop.. Kolayad town has been on edge after two wildlife incursions on Thursday evening left the area gripped by fear.

Kolayad town, located close to the Kannavam forest area, first witnessed three bisons straying into the premises of an old cinema theatre along the Thalassery–Peravoor State Highway. Alerted by local residents, the Forest Department rushed to the spot and managed to drive the animals back using firecrackers.

Just a couple of hours later, panic gripped the town again when a spotted deer darted across the road and barged into KVK Hardware store, startling customers inside. The deer, which had crossed the road to enter the shop, soon bolted back into the open and disappeared into the forested side.

Residents say wild animals, especially bisons and deer, are being pushed out of the forests due to the presence of predators such as leopards, tigers and jackals along the edges of the Kannavam forest. Fearing these hunters, the animals have been staying close to human settlements and roadways over the past several days.

Koothuparamba also on alert
In Koothuparamba, bisons have been venturing into human habitations in Palapparambu near Thokkilangadi. A group of three bisons was spotted near the property of ex-serviceman K E Surendran the other night, damaging vegetables, tubers and plantains. It is suspected that the animals may have wandered in from the Kannavam forest through the cashew plantations in Palapparambu.

Panic in Vilakkottoor
In the Panoor region, residents were on edge for hours after bisons strayed into settlements near Vilakkottoor. The animals were sighted at multiple locations, including Nalupurackal, Kurikkolil and Nellyattu, from Thursday morning onwards. Forest officials believe the two bisons, which were earlier spotted near Kalikkolambu in Nadapuram, may have moved towards Vilakkottoor, a border region. These animals later crossing the river to reach Areekkarakunnu. Police and Forest Department teams reached the locations to monitor the situation.