A tusker with a soft spot for jackfruit (Kerala)
Sandeep Vellaram, The Hindu
January 28, 2023
After Arikompan, a tusker which has displayed a penchant for raiding ration
shops for provisions, another wild elephant addicted to jackfruit in
homesteads bordering forests at Santhanpara and Chinnakkanal grama
panchayats in Idukki has made an unnerving habit of foraying into
habitations for its choice food. The habit has earned it the soubriquet
Chakkakompan ( chakka is jackfruit and komban means tusker).
Forest officials say Chakkakompan regularly raids farmlands bordering
forests in the two panchayats for jackfruit. Alarmed over its incursions,
the department has directed farmers to pluck the fruit when it is raw at
these places.
“The tusker will reach the jackfruit tree on the farmlands without fail. So
farmers, knowing its habit, themselves remove the jackfruit when it is raw.
The tusker is dangerous and is known to attack people. Arikompan and
Chakkakompan are the most dangerous tuskers in the Devikulam range,“ says
an official.
Santhanpara panchayat president Liju Varghese says the two rogue tuskers
are giving sleepless nights to people in the region and they should be
captured at any cost. “People are not growing jackfruit on their farmlands
fearing attack of Chakkakompan,” says Mr. Varghese.
Elephant expert P.S. Essa says the smell of jackfruit attract the tusker to
the farmlands and these areas have jackfruit trees in abundance. “The
tusker has developed a habit of eating jackfruit. The only way to dissuade
it is not to grow jackfruit in farmlands,” says Dr. Essa.
Meanwhile, wild elephant attacks are continuing in the Chinnakkanal region.
People say a woman, Rajeshwari, and her child, Kokila, had a narrow escape
after Arikompan attacked a home at BL Ram on Saturday morning. The tusker
attacked the house around 1 a.m. Rajeshwari was injured after a wall
collapsed on her. On noticing the animal’s presence, they escaped to
another room.
Shantri Tom, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Munnar, said a Rapid
Response Team chased away the tusker to the forest. “A meeting will be held
at the Idukki collectorate on Tuesday to discuss issues relating to
elephant attacks at Chinnakkanal. Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran will
attend the meeting,” said Mr. Tom.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/a-tusker-with-a-sweet-tooth-for-jackfruit/article66443613.ece
A tusker with a soft spot for jackfruit (Kerala)
Sandeep Vellaram, The Hindu
January 28, 2023
After Arikompan, a tusker which has displayed a penchant for raiding ration
shops for provisions, another wild elephant addicted to jackfruit in
homesteads bordering forests at Santhanpara and Chinnakkanal grama
panchayats in Idukki has made an unnerving habit of foraying into
habitations for its choice food. The habit has earned it the soubriquet
Chakkakompan ( chakka is jackfruit and komban means tusker).
Forest officials say Chakkakompan regularly raids farmlands bordering
forests in the two panchayats for jackfruit. Alarmed over its incursions,
the department has directed farmers to pluck the fruit when it is raw at
these places.
“The tusker will reach the jackfruit tree on the farmlands without fail. So
farmers, knowing its habit, themselves remove the jackfruit when it is raw.
The tusker is dangerous and is known to attack people. Arikompan and
Chakkakompan are the most dangerous tuskers in the Devikulam range,“ says
an official.
Santhanpara panchayat president Liju Varghese says the two rogue tuskers
are giving sleepless nights to people in the region and they should be
captured at any cost. “People are not growing jackfruit on their farmlands
fearing attack of Chakkakompan,” says Mr. Varghese.
Elephant expert P.S. Essa says the smell of jackfruit attract the tusker to
the farmlands and these areas have jackfruit trees in abundance. “The
tusker has developed a habit of eating jackfruit. The only way to dissuade
it is not to grow jackfruit in farmlands,” says Dr. Essa.
Meanwhile, wild elephant attacks are continuing in the Chinnakkanal region.
People say a woman, Rajeshwari, and her child, Kokila, had a narrow escape
after Arikompan attacked a home at BL Ram on Saturday morning. The tusker
attacked the house around 1 a.m. Rajeshwari was injured after a wall
collapsed on her. On noticing the animal’s presence, they escaped to
another room.
Shantri Tom, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Munnar, said a Rapid
Response Team chased away the tusker to the forest. “A meeting will be held
at the Idukki collectorate on Tuesday to discuss issues relating to
elephant attacks at Chinnakkanal. Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran will
attend the meeting,” said Mr. Tom.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/a-tusker-with-a-sweet-tooth-for-jackfruit/article66443613.ece
