States » SouthPosted at: Oct 8 2026 11:52AM


Mass wild elephant deaths spark alarm in Kerala, CBI probe sought

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 8 (UNI) A comprehensive investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a special team under the supervision of the Kerala High Court has been sought into the reported increase in mass deaths of wild elephants in Kerala.
The demand was raised at “Vana Spandanam”, a two-day gathering of environmental organisations and activists organised jointly by Co-Existence Kerala and the State Central Library here.
The gathering expressed concern over the continuing deaths of wild elephants and warned that the species could face the threat of extinction if the trend continued. It claimed that more than half of the wild elephants had died during the past three years.
The recovery of elephant tusks in connection with some incidents had raised concerns over the possible revival of elephant poaching in the state, the participants said.
The meeting also alleged that demands for capturing and relocating tuskers from forests were being raised in a manner that could adversely affect the breeding of wild elephants.
The gathering welcomed the initiatives undertaken by the Idukki District Collector to remove obstructions along elephant movement corridors and described them as a model effort towards mitigating human-elephant conflict.
It also demanded legal action against those allegedly issuing death threats against the Collector in connection with the measures. The participants expressed solidarity with Idukki Collector Dr Dineshan Cheruvatt.
The meeting opposed any unilateral move to repeal or amend the Ecologically Fragile Land (EFL) law brought in pursuant to the directions of the High Court. It also demanded that land already taken into possession under the law should not be returned.
The participants further called for a social audit of the Forest Department's activities in grasslands carried out as part of efforts to remove invasive plant species, saying such interventions should be subjected to greater public scrutiny. Wayanad Nature Conservation Society president N Badusha presided over the gathering.
UNI DS
Tags: #Mass wild elephant deaths spark alarm in Kerala# CBI probe sought
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