Wild elephant attack: Two more lives lost in Thiruvananthapuram and Wayanad; Babu's body found in decomposed state

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/WAYANAD: Two more lives were lost in attacks by wild elephants in Thiruvananthapuram and Wayanad. Both victims belong to the tribal community. The person killed in Wayanad is Manu (46) from Ambalamoola on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. Babu (54) from Peringammala Sasthamnada, Madathara was the victim from Thiruvananthapuram.

Babu, who had gone to the forest last Wednesday to collect forest resources, was found trampled to death by a wild elephant yesterday. Babu's relatives had launched a search since he did not return even after six days. During that search, Babu's clothes were found near the Adiparambu Sasthamnada forest path on Monday. Babu's body was found decomposed near a stream yesterday morning. The body was lying in the inner forest, eight kilometres away from the main road. Babu's wife is Shobhana.

Manu was killed by a wild elephant in Wayanad on Monday night. Manu's body was found yesterday morning near the field near his family home in Kappad, during a search conducted by locals. Manu had gone to the family home in Kappad after buying things from the market with his wife Chandrika. His wife also went to the house in Narikolli. At around 8 pm, Manu got off the auto at Onivayal and was walking to his family home when the wild elephant attacked him. Children: Sajitha, Babina, Sangeetha, Sanisha.

Locals protest

Locals protested in Wayanad and insisted that they would not allow Manu's body to be moved without the arrival of the District Collector or the Wildlife Warden. They demanded that the defence system be strengthened to prevent wild elephant attacks and compensation be provided immediately. Wildlife Warden Varun Dalia then reached the spot. He assured that half the compensation amount would be given to Manu's family now and that the defence system would be made effective immediately. After the postmortem at the Taluk Hospital, the body was cremated in the house compound.