Elephant killing continues in Kerala’s death zone

An elephant that died in the Malayattoor Forest area on June 28, 2026. The forest department has launched an investigation into the death. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Human-caused elephant deaths are back in the limelight in Kerala after a makhna elephant died in the Malayattoor forests of Ernakulam district on Saturday (June 27, 2026).

While forest officials are investigating the incident, the death has also focused attention on the ongoing killing of elephants in the Parambikulam-Munnar-Malayattoor forest sector, one of the major elephant mortality hotspots in Kerala.

Ironically, the incident occurred just a day after senior forest officials met in Thattekad to discuss the “Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) for Elephant Reserves for the 2026-27 cycle.

It is also the second similar incident in the region in two months. In May, a glider died days after biting a jackfruit packed with explosives in the Kuttampuzha forest. A tribal member was arrested in connection with the incident. In the same month, another elephant was electrocuted in the Neriamangalam range in Kaverippady.

According to a study on elephant mortality in Kerala between 2019-20 and 2024-25 by an expert team led by Pramod G. Krishnan, then Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala, crop raiding and encroachment of elephant habitats and human retaliation contributed to the death of elephants in the region.

The study identified electrocution as the leading unnatural cause of death, with the number of incidents tripling over six years. “Explosives and poaching remain threats, with juveniles increasingly falling prey to explosive traps often set on wild boars,” the report said.

The primary elephant mortality zones also included the Wayanad region, the Nilambur region and the Periyar-Ranni-Konni region.

The death of a pregnant wild elephant in the Silent Valley forest in 2020, also a suspected case of the animal being injured after feeding on fruit stuffed with firecrackers, sparked widespread outrage. Unable to eat after suffering a mouth injury, the animal remained in the river in an apparent attempt to ease the pain.

The study estimated that 744 wild elephants died between April 2019 and March 2025, and human causes led to 77 deaths, with Munnar and Ranni regions accounting for “higher incidence of electrocution”, the report said.

Probe to death

The forest department has been asked to investigate the latest incident, said Shibu Baby John, state forest minister. According to him, the government is working on long-term and short-term proposals to solve this problem.

An autopsy gave the cause of death as septicemia from the injuries. Factors leading to the incident are being investigated, said P. Pugazhendi, Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala.

The cause of the injury is probably light explosives or fights between animals. However, there are reasons to suspect that the animal may have been injured while chewing on explosives hidden in the fruit. A primary investigation into the incident has been initiated, said P. Karthik, Divisional Forest Officer, Malayattoor.

Published – 28 Jun 2026 21:17 IST