Lack of rain leads to wild elephants camping in human dwellings in Kerala’s Munnar

Padayappa a wild tusker at a tea plantation near Munnar in Idukki. | Photo Credit: (File Photo) SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Lack of rainfall disturbs local wildlife in the Munnar region. According to forest department officials, poor monsoon rains in the hill station have led to wild elephants straying into human settlements in search of food and water.

Once the monsoon gets stronger, the elephants usually retreat deep into the forest. However, this year the herds remained near human habitations due to lack of food and water deeper in the forests, a senior forest official said.

“Besides, the grass in the pastures has become unpalatable to the elephants, prompting them to set up camp in the tea plantations. Most of the tea plantations in Munnar border the shola forests and the availability of food in both ecosystems sustains the elephants in the region,” the official said.

On tea plantations

Munnar range ranger S. Biju confirmed the continued presence of wild elephants near residential areas. “Elephants have also crossed over from Mankulam forests to Munnar forest division, settled in tea plantations and refused to return to their original habitats. Normally, they would retreat to deep forest during monsoon,” he said.

Among them is a well-known wild slider, locally named ‘Padayappa’, who has been roaming around the Silent Valley estate near Munnar for the past two months. A tusker recently destroyed a shop in Silent Valley, causing damage estimated at over ₹ 1.5 lakh. Plantation workers said the animal showed no signs of leaving the area.

Data from the United Planters’ Association of Southern India (UPASI) Tea Research Foundation in Munnar confirms a drastic drop in rainfall. “From June 1 to June 30, Munnar received a mere 50.60 cm of rainfall compared to 137.69 cm in the same period last year. Between July 1 and July 23, only 39.96 cm of rainfall fell, down from 71.30 cm last year. Overall, the hill station recorded 272% rainfall from January to June 2026 compared to a massive 8 cm.270.89 cm recorded in the same period last year,” the data shows.

Officials have warned that if the drought continues, dwindling food and water supplies inside the forest will force even more wild animals to wander into human settlements.

Published – 24 Jul 2026 20:26 IST