Two Tribal Individuals in Kerala Pass Away While Fleeing from Wild Elephants; Autopsy Results Pending
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Synopsis
In Kerala, a tragic incident unfolded as two tribal individuals, Ambika and Satish, lost their lives while fleeing from a herd of wild elephants. This event adds to the ongoing man-animal conflict in the region, which has claimed numerous lives, particularly among the tribal communities residing in forested areas.
Key Takeaways
- Two tribals died in Kerala amid man-animal conflict.
- Incident occurred in Athirapally, a tourist area.
- Ambika's body found in the river; Satish's in the forest.
- Tribal families were collecting forest produce when startled.
- Kerala's government is addressing the situation.
Thrissur, April 15 (NationPress) Amidst an ongoing man-animal conflict in Kerala that has severely affected the local forest-dwelling populace, reports emerged of two additional fatalities on Tuesday morning.
The deceased have been named as Ambika and Satish, with the incidents occurring in Athirapally, a scenic tourist destination nestled within the woods.
Their demise reportedly took place while they were fleeing in panic upon encountering a herd of wild elephants.
The body of Ambika was located in the river, whereas Satish's remains were discovered in the forest.
Once the autopsy results are available, it will be determined if the two individuals were crushed by the elephants or succumbed to other factors.
On that fateful Tuesday morning, the local tribal community alerted forest officials regarding this tragic event.
Local legislator Sanish Kumar Joseph stated that these tribal families reside within the forest and often venture deep into it for permitted forest produce collection.
“Reports indicate that some tribal members entered the dense forest to gather produce and, encountering a herd of elephants, became frightened and fled, leading to their untimely deaths,” Joseph explained.
Coincidentally, K.M. Jayachandran, a village council member, noted that these fatalities occurred just as the tribal community was preparing for the funeral of another individual who had been trampled by an elephant late Sunday night.
Kerala's Forest Minister, A.K. Saseendran, who is currently in Mumbai, has instructed the Chief Forest Officer to compile a report regarding the incident.
“The state government is committed to addressing the ongoing man-animal conflict through various initiatives, which are currently in progress,” Saseendran remarked.
Since the start of 2025, approximately a dozen individuals, primarily from tribal backgrounds, have lost their lives due to attacks by wild animals, with a significant number of casualties reported in Wayanad district.
The wild animals causing these incidents include elephants, tigers, and wild boars.
Tribal areas such as Wayanad, Thrissur, and Kannur have been notably impacted by the ongoing man-animal conflict.
