Panel to assess elephant fodder availability in conflict-hit Idukki zone

A specialized panel has been formed to examine the availability of fodder for wild elephants in the conflict-affected areas of Idukki district's Devikulam range, according to official sources. The decision reflects growing concerns about elephant-human conflict in the region and the need to understand the ecological factors driving wildlife movement patterns.

The panel's investigation follows earlier allegations that authorities were working to restore a wildlife corridor for elephants in the Chinnakkanal area. Such corridors are critical for allowing elephants to move between fragmented habitats and reduce their dependence on agricultural areas, thereby minimizing human-wildlife conflict.

Fodder scarcity is considered a significant driver of elephant movements into human settlements, where the animals often raid crops and destroy property, sometimes resulting in casualties. By assessing the current food availability in natural habitats, officials hope to identify interventions that could encourage elephants to remain within forest areas.

The Devikulam range has witnessed repeated incidents of human-elephant conflict, making it one of Kerala's most sensitive wildlife zones. The panel's findings are expected to inform policy decisions on habitat management and conflict mitigation strategies in the region.