Keralam govt orders capture of Aralam Farm tusker KM1, to be radio-collared before forest release
Kannur, July 26
The Keralam government has ordered the capture of KM1, the tusker that has been repeatedly entering the Aralam Farm region and nearby rehabilitation colonies, by tranquillising it and fitting it with a radio collar before releasing it into its natural habitat away from human settlements, Electricity, Environment and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sunny Joseph said.
The Minister said the Chief Wildlife Warden granted permission under Section 11(1)(a) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, adding that the need for urgent action had been brought to the attention of the Forest Minister and other authorities. KM1 has been a persistent threat in the Aralam Farm area, frequently entering residential settlements and causing extensive damage.
The operation will be carried out in accordance with all guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. After being tranquillised, the elephant will be fitted with a radio collar to enable continuous monitoring while ensuring minimal stress to the animal, the Minister said.
According to the Forest Department, KM1 regularly breaches various protective barriers installed along the forest boundary to enter habitat areas. The report states that the elephant has developed a pattern of damaging houses and agricultural crops without provocation and has also attacked vehicles. KM1 is identified as the largest tusker in the herd that has been entering the Aralam region since 2008. The department also confirmed that footprints found after the fatal elephant attack that claimed the life of Aneesh at Aralam on February 26 matched those of KM1.
Under the government order, the Chief Conservator of Forests, Northern Circle, Kannur, will supervise the operation, while the Kannur Additional Forest Officer (DFO) will coordinate the mission. The Chief Forest Veterinary Officer and the Assistant Forest Veterinary Officer, Kannur, will also be part of the capture and monitoring operation.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's sad that it's come to this. I understand the need to protect people and crops, but we're the ones who have encroached on their habitat. KM1 is just trying to survive. That said, the loss of a human life is tragic. I just hope this operation is humane and doesn't harm the elephant. 🙏🏽
As someone who's worked in wildlife management, radio collaring is the way to go. It gives real-time data and helps understand movement patterns. But you can't just release him back into the same forest—he'll likely return. Maybe they should relocate him to a sanctuary far away. Just my two cents. 🦏
Honestly, I'm tired of these half-measures. The forest department has been saying "we'll handle it" for years, and people are still getting killed. Aneesh's family deserves justice. But at the same time, I don't want the elephant killed. It's a tough situation. The real problem is that our forests are shrinking—we need to stop destroying their homes.
Good decision. Let's hope they don't mess it up like last time. In 2016, they tried to capture another elephant in Wayanad, and the whole operation was a disaster—the animal died from stress. This KM1 is a big tusker, so they better have experienced vet team. Also, why not just move the rehabilitation colonies? They're in a forest area after all.
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