14 killed in 4 months: Rise in tribal death due to wild elephant attack leaves activist worried

Changes in the behaviour of elephants owing to illegal human interventions in forests and evading traditional knowledge among the people of tribal communities in understanding the forests and the wildlife are pointed out by experts as possible reasons for the tribal persons coming under fatal attack of wild elephants.

Thiruvananthapuram: The people from tribal communities are traditionally known for their coexistence with wild animals. But Kerala is witnessing frequent deaths of persons from tribal communities in wild elephant attacks.

According to wildlife protection activists, out of the 17 deaths due to wild elephant attacks reported in the state so far this year, at least 14 victims were from the tribal communities. Kali, 63 of Attapadi in Palakkad and Arumugahm, 67, of Meppadi in Wayanad are the latest in the list. The two were killed last week.

Changes in behaviour of elephants owing to illegal human interventions in forests and evading traditional knowledge among the people of tribal communities in understanding the forests and the wildlife are pointed out by experts as possible reasons for the tribal persons coming under fatal attack of wild elephants.

Kochi-based Animals and Nature Ethic Committee (ANEC) points out that increasing illegal human intervention like using of crackers to chase away wild elephants and darting were leading to violent behaviour of wild elephants towards human beings. The increasing tourism activities in the forest is also a contributing factor, said Santosh T S of ANEC.

ANEC had also petitioned the wildlife authorities against the use of explosives and darting activities being initiated by the forest authorities, even targeting elephants in their natural habitats.

Renowned wildlife biologist P S Easa notes that apart from the changes in forest habitats, the diminishing skill of the present generation of people from the tribal communities in understanding the forests could be also a reason for the increasing casualties among them.

"Earlier, we used to depend on people from the tribal communities while venturing into forests. They used to identify the presence of wild animals by listening to the sounds, smelling and watching the surroundings. But such skills seem to be evading among the new generations who even listen to music from mobile phones while entering forests," he pointed out.

Tribal rights activist Velly P hailing from Attapadi blames it on the changes in forest habitats owing to massive encroachments of tribal land and conversion of forest land as revenue land.

He also admits that the traditional knowledge among the younger generations of tribal communities could be fading. "Children from tribal hamlets are being taken away from the forest for education. Hence the children could not acquire traditional knowledge from forests. But education is important and hence we could not blame it," said Velly.