Herd of 17 elephants attack government jeep and destroy bike; all for baby elephant

PERUMBAVOOR: A baby elephant from a herd of wild elephants that had entered a residential area in Plamudi Kuruwanappara in Vengoor panchayat fell into a well. The herd of elephants turned on the forest department staff and locals when they were trying to save the baby elephant by digging the side of the well. The elephants tried to overturn a forest department jeep and destroyed a bike. No one was injured.

The baby elephant fell into a well in the compound on the Mekkappala Suryagrahanam Road. The forest department and locals dug the side of the well, rescued the baby elephant and released it into the forest along with the herd of wild elephants.

The incident took place around 5 am. Locals said that there were 17 elephants in the herd. The wild elephants kept the villagers of Mekkappala at bay for several hours. Elephant attacks are common in this area. Herds of up to 40 elephants have come close to the residential area in the past.

"There are more than nine kilometres of forest boundary in Vengoor, Kottapadi and Pindimana panchayats. With the completion of electric fencing in Kottapadi and Pindimana panchayats, elephant nuisance has increased in Mekkappala, Paniely, Munipara, Panamkuzhy, Krariyely and Kombanad parts of Vengoor panchayat. Fencing should be completed urgently in Vengoor too."

Shilpa Sudheesh

Vengoor Panchayat President