Wild elephant herd causes panic in Kerala's Puthukkulam region

A herd of wild elephants entered the Puthukkulam region near Malayalappuzha in Kerala on Wednesday, triggering widespread panic among residents. Nine elephants were initially spotted, though most moved away, leaving two still roaming near houses and agricultural land by evening. The Forest department's rapid response team worked to prevent the animals from advancing further into populated areas. Residents report that such incursions have become increasingly frequent, causing extensive damage to crops and property while severely disrupting daily life, particularly for elderly residents and families with young children. Notably, elephants are now appearing during daytime hours in addition to their traditional midnight visits, making farming and routine activities more dangerous. While locals acknowledged the efforts of forest officials, they emphasized that current interventions are limited and temporary, calling for additional personnel and long-term infrastructure solutions such as stronger fencing and elephant-proof trenches.