MALAPPURAM: Over 100 people lost their lives in wild elephant attacks over the last six years in Kerala. 160 people were injured. More deaths occurred in Palakkad district (26). These numbers are ruthless.

23 were killed in Idukki and 20 in Wayanad. Ten people have been killed so far this year, including the couple who were trampled to death by a tusker at Aralam Farm in Kannur on Sunday. Two each were killed in Malappuram, Idukki, Wayanad and Kannur while one each in Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur over the last six years. 273 panchayats/municipalities are wildlife conflict-prone areas while 30 of these are hot spots.

Many schemes to prevent wildlife attacks have not been completed in time, which is blamed for the current predicament. A year has passed since Ajeesh (45) was killed by a wild elephant in Wayanad Padamala on February 10, 2024, but the elephant fence (crash guard) construction has not reached anywhere. The project first started in 2019 and after Ajeesh’s death, the authorities promised to ramp up work but have not kept their word.

• A high-level meeting of the forest department held last day in the face of increased wild elephant attacks formulated action plans.

• Construction of solar fences will speed up. Food and water will be provided inside the forest. Monitoring will be intensified on elephant stands and permanent movement routes.

• Voluntary response forces will be formed in highly problematic areas. Special surveillance on hotspots.