A wild tusker locally called Ottakompan consuming plastic waste from a dumping ground at Kallar, near Munnar, in Idukki. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
A dumping ground at Kallar run by the Munnar panchayat poses a threat to wild elephants in the hill station, with wild elephants, especially an elephant locally called Ottakompan, entering the yard to consume plant waste filled with plastic.
Vimal Raj, a wildlife photographer who tracks the movement of wild elephants in Munnar, said he found a tusker consuming plastic yard waste.
“I photographed an elephant consuming plastic mixed with vegetable waste from the yard. Due to the immediate availability of food, the animal camps in the yard. Regular consumption of plastic waste full of vegetables can pose a threat to the elephant’s life,” says Mr. Raj.
For the past two years, wild elephants have been regularly seen in the yard at Kallar. Forest officials say the yard poses a threat to local wildlife. “Wild elephants, wild gaurs and other animals are regularly seen in the yard,” says the official.
R. Mohan, president of the Munnar Environment and Wildlife Society (MEWS), says the Kallar yard has emerged as a major threat to wild elephants. “Munnar’s favorite tusker, Padayappa, is a regular visitor to the area. In the last two years, MEWS has repeatedly approached the authorities to find a solution to the problem, but to no avail,” he says.
Munnar Range Officer S. Biju says the forest department has directed the Munnar panchayat to repair the solar fence around the power plant.
“The department has also asked the panchayat to provide a pump gun to the department to chase away wild animals from the power plant. The panchayat has also been directed to install a real-time camera in the plant to monitor the movement of wild elephants. In a recent meeting called by the forest minister in Idukki, the Munnar panchayat secretary agreed to install a solar fence soon,” he says.
Munnar panchayat secretary GP Udayakumar says the panchayat has allocated ₹8 lakh for setting up a solar fence in the yard. “The work has started and is expected to be completed soon,” he says.
Published – 22 Oct 2025 19:55 IST
