Wild elephant damages protection wall of a Church in Idukki
The Hindu
March 28, 2024
See link
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/wild-elephant-damages-protection-wall-of-a-church-in-idukki/article68002937.ece
for photos.
A wild tusker, locally known as Murivalankompan, damaged the protection
wall of St. Thomas Church at Sinkukandam, near Chinnakkanal, around 4 a.m.
on (March 28) Thursday morning.
This comes after fire swept through nearly 50 acres of eucalyptus
plantation at Vilakk, near Cement Palam, on Wednesday night. According to
sources, the fire spread after crackers were burst to chase wild elephants
away from the land.
Two wild elephants — Chakkakompan and Murivalankompan — were camping in the
area, according to P.N. Sunil, a resident of Sinkukandam. “The presence of
wild elephants is giving sleepless nights to the people” he said. Also,
wild tusker Chakkakompan on Tuesday night attacked a home at Sinkukandam,
and the family members narrowly escaped.
Seeking Curbs on Trekking
Meanwhile, Forest department has written to Kannan Devan Hills Plantation
(KDHP) officials to prevent trekking through through Lakshmi Hill and other
areas falling under KDHP. The move comes after a video of a melanistic
leopard, commonly known as a black panther, was captured by a tourist guide
near Lakshmi Hill, in Munnar on March 22. The video had reportedly gone
viral.
A Forest department official said many foreign tourists, along with guides,
trek in these areas. “These areas have an active presence of wild animals,
including elephants. If an accident occurs, we cannot provide timely
assistance due to the remoteness of the area. We directed KDHP officials to
prevent such illegal trekking,” said the official.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/wild-elephant-damages-protection-wall-of-a-church-in-idukki/article68002937.ece
Wild elephant damages protection wall of a Church in Idukki
The Hindu
March 28, 2024
See link
<https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/wild-elephant-damages-protection-wall-of-a-church-in-idukki/article68002937.ece>
for photos.
A wild tusker, locally known as Murivalankompan, damaged the protection
wall of St. Thomas Church at Sinkukandam, near Chinnakkanal, around 4 a.m.
on (March 28) Thursday morning.
This comes after fire swept through nearly 50 acres of eucalyptus
plantation at Vilakk, near Cement Palam, on Wednesday night. According to
sources, the fire spread after crackers were burst to chase wild elephants
away from the land.
Two wild elephants — Chakkakompan and Murivalankompan — were camping in the
area, according to P.N. Sunil, a resident of Sinkukandam. “The presence of
wild elephants is giving sleepless nights to the people” he said. Also,
wild tusker Chakkakompan on Tuesday night attacked a home at Sinkukandam,
and the family members narrowly escaped.
Seeking Curbs on Trekking
Meanwhile, Forest department has written to Kannan Devan Hills Plantation
(KDHP) officials to prevent trekking through through Lakshmi Hill and other
areas falling under KDHP. The move comes after a video of a melanistic
leopard, commonly known as a black panther, was captured by a tourist guide
near Lakshmi Hill, in Munnar on March 22. The video had reportedly gone
viral.
A Forest department official said many foreign tourists, along with guides,
trek in these areas. “These areas have an active presence of wild animals,
including elephants. If an accident occurs, we cannot provide timely
assistance due to the remoteness of the area. We directed KDHP officials to
prevent such illegal trekking,” said the official.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/wild-elephant-damages-protection-wall-of-a-church-in-idukki/article68002937.ece