Elephant attacks claim 18 lives this year in Kerala; 60 more deaths caused by…

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Eighteen people have died in wild elephant attacks in Kerala this year, with eight fatalities since January. The state has also recorded 60 deaths caused by tigers, wild boars, and snakes. Immediate financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh is being provided to the families of the deceased, with an additional Rs 5 lakh contingent on providing necessary certificates. The forest department said that they have already disbursed Rs 1.5 crore for this purpose.

Between 2016 and 2025, wild elephant attacks claimed 200 lives in Kerala, with 22 deaths reported in 2023-24. Wildlife attacks overall caused 94 deaths during this period, and Rs 21.79 crore was distributed as compensation. Despite contributions from central schemes like Project Elephant and the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat, only Rs 74.51 lakh was received as central funding last year.

The state had sought a special central package of Rs 620 crore to address wildlife conflicts by declaring it a special disaster, but the proposal was rejected. The central government suggested that the state allocate its own budget for the issue.

A census conducted in 2024 revealed that Kerala has 1,793 wild elephants. Wildlife conflict is particularly severe in 30 panchayats among the state's 273 identified hotspots. Measures to mitigate conflicts include deploying 26 rapid action forces, implementing ten mission projects, and operating control rooms at both state and district levels. However, surveillance cameras installed in conflict zones have proven ineffective in dense forests.