One more killed in wild elephant attack in Wayanad, fourth in a week

Thiruvananthapuram, DHNS: Amidst the mounting protests in Kerala over back-to-back deaths in wild animal attacks, one more youth was killed in a wild elephant attack in Wayanad on Tuesday night.

Balakrishnan alias Balan (27) from the tribal community of Attamala near Meppadi was found dead on Wednesday morning. It is suspected that he was trampled to death by a wild elephant on Tuesday night.

Congress-led United Democratic Front called for a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Wayanad on Thursday in protest against the back-to-back deaths. On Wednesday, agitated locals protested against the frequent deaths in wild animal attacks. Government authorities assured immediate assistance of Rs 5 lakh to pacify the protesters.

On Monday, three deaths in wild elephant attacks were reported in the state, including one in Wayanad.
Three persons have been killed in wild elephant attacks and one was killed by a tiger in Wayanad so far this year.

It is suspected that rising temperatures are prompting wild animals to frequent human settlements in search of food and water.

Meanwhile, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority sanctioned Rs 50 lakh to Wayanad district on Wednesday for taking immediate measures like weeding abandoned areas to prevent human-animal conflicts.