Kerala Forms 500-Member Special Reserve Force to Monitor Wild Elephant Movement in Conflict Areas

Kerala's Forest Minister Shibu Baby John has issued directives to establish a 500-member special reserve force specifically designed to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in areas experiencing frequent wild elephant incursions. The force will be organized into 100 batches of five members each, strategically deployed in hotspots where elephant attacks are most common. Composition includes tribal community members with local wildlife knowledge, retired Forest Department experts, personnel with technical expertise, and experienced residents. The force's responsibilities encompass continuous monitoring of elephant movement and migration patterns, issuing timely public warnings through direct communication and media when elephants are spotted near settlements, inspecting the effectiveness of wildlife prevention infrastructure such as solar fencing, and assisting rapid response teams in safely driving elephants back into forest areas. Operating round-the-clock, the units will conduct regular patrols in conflict-affected regions and participate in broader conflict-mitigation activities.