A 40-year-old man was fatally attacked by a wild elephant near Kothamangalam in Kerala’s Ernakulam district on Monday night, sparking protests from locals who demanded permanent measures to address the escalating human-animal conflict.
The victim, Eldhose Kodiyatt, a resident of Kuttampuzha panchayat, was walking home after deboarding a bus at Urulanthanni when the tusker attacked him around 9 PM. The stretch from the bus stop to his home reportedly had streetlights, but none were functional.
Horrific Incident
Locals discovered Eldhose’s mutilated body on the road. Maneesh, a neighbor who arrived at the scene, described the horrifying sight:
“His body was torn into pieces. Eldhose probably didn’t realize the elephant was nearby and unknowingly ran into it in the dark.”
The incident led to hours-long protests, with residents refusing to hand over the body for autopsy. They relented only after district collector NSK Umesh assured them of compensation and immediate action to prevent future attacks.
Compensation and Government Response
The district administration provided ₹10 lakh to Eldhose’s family, which includes his elderly parents and a sister. Forest Minister AK Saseendran announced steps to mitigate the conflict, including repairing streetlights, installing solar fences, and digging trenches around the panchayat and reserve forest boundaries.
Saseendran acknowledged the public outrage, stating, “The incident is extremely unfortunate. We are taking steps to ensure such tragedies don’t recur by strengthening barriers and lighting in affected areas.”
Growing Human-Animal Conflict
The incident highlights the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in Kerala. In 2023-24, 17 people were killed in wild elephant attacks across the state, compared to 27 in 2022-23 and 35 in 2021-22.
The Catholic Congress, a Syro-Malabar Church outfit, criticized the forest department’s inaction, demanding the resignation of the forest minister. “People living near forests deserve peace. This death could have been avoided with proper fencing,” said a church priest.
Final Rites
Eldhose’s remains were interred at the local cemetery in Kuttampuzha on Tuesday evening after an autopsy at Kalamassery Government Medical College.
This tragic incident underscores the urgent need for effective measures to protect human lives while preserving wildlife habitats, ensuring peaceful coexistence along forest fringes.
Sources By Agencies
