Forest department begins profiling stray elephants to tackle growing human-wildlife conflict in north Kerala

The decision to monitor and profile wild animals, especially elephants, was taken in view of the increasing number of human-wildlife conflicts, especially in Aralam and areas adjacent to forest fringes. | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO

The forest department has begun profiling individual elephants that repeatedly wander into human settlements in an effort to better understand their movement patterns and improve conflict mitigation in northern Kerala.

Speaking to The Hindu, Chief Conservator of Forests (Northern Circle) BN Anjankumar said the decision to monitor and profile wild animals, especially elephants, was taken in view of the increasing number of human-wildlife conflicts, especially in Aralam and areas adjacent to forest fringes.

He said rapid response teams, field workers and forest observers are documenting the usual stray elephants through photos, videos and field reports after officials found some of the animals follow predictable patterns of behavior, including entering human settlements, especially between 2am and 4am when human activity is at its lowest, feeding in agricultural areas and returning to the forest before dawn.

He said profiling is an operational measure based on field observations and not a scientific research study. The department found that only a few particular elephants or herds repeatedly ventured into human habitations, suggesting that they may have become accustomed to agricultural areas as a food source.

As part of this exercise, KM1, a tusker that had repeatedly entered the Aralam Farm area and nearby rehabilitation colonies, was identified and a decision was taken to tranquilize and radio-collar him before releasing him into his natural habitat outside of human settlements.

Mr. Anjankumar further pointed out that encroachments of wild animals into human settlements, especially in Aralam, Kottiyoor and other forest fringes, consistently peak during the early monsoon months of July and August, despite the forests having ample food and water during this period. He backed up the claim by saying the trend is based on incident data collected over several years, although the exact reasons require detailed scientific study.

He also said that the sightings are based on records maintained by the divisional forest emergency operations center where every report of elephant movement, presence of tiger or leopard and other wildlife incursions is recorded. An analysis of the records shows that the highest number of incidents are consistently reported during July and August, he added.

“Not all elephants will be tagged and named, but only those pachyderms that repeatedly show problems or show aggressive behavior. This will help us understand their behavior, the reasons behind it, their movement patterns and routes,” he said.

Regarding scientific research on the issue, Mr. Anjankumar said the forest department is considering a request from the Center of Excellence for the Study of Human-Wildlife Conflict, set up by the Wildlife Institute of India at the Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History campus, to conduct a carrying capacity study in the Wayanad landscape.

The center has a team of researchers studying conflict-related issues who could scientifically assess whether the region is supporting wildlife populations beyond its ecological capacity, he said. The proposal has been discussed at ministerial and ministerial level, but formal approval has not yet been granted.

“The Wayanad landscape, which is linked to Mudumalai, Bandipur and Nagarhole forests, is believed to contain more elephants and tigers than it can sustainably support. A scientific assessment would confirm or disprove this assumption,” he said.

Published – 26 Jul 2026 20:06 IST