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Key Points

Five wild elephants, including a calf and pregnant female, were found dead in Kerala's Ernakulam district after heavy flooding. Officials suspect drowning and waterfall falls caused the tragic deaths, with injuries consistent with being swept by strong currents. This follows similar elephant fatalities during Kerala's 2018 and 2020 floods. The Forest Department has launched an investigation while urging locals to report unusual wildlife activity.

Key Points: Five Wild Elephants Found Dead in Kerala Floods Including Calf

  • Two tuskers found dead in Kuttampuzha forest range after waterfall fall
  • Pregnant elephant carcass discovered in Athirappilly forest area
  • Forest officials suspect drowning and injuries from flood currents
  • Similar elephant deaths reported during Kerala floods in 2018 and 2020
2 min read

Carcasses of five wild elephants found in Kerala's Ernakulam forests

Tragic deaths of five wild elephants, including a calf and pregnant female, discovered in Ernakulam forests after heavy Kerala floods.

"There was nothing unusual about the deaths of the four elephants, which appeared to have occurred due to flooding after heavy rain. - P Karthik, Malayattoor DFO"

Kochi, Aug 8

The carcasses of five wild elephants, including a calf and a pregnant female, have been recovered from three forest divisions in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, following days of intense rainfall and flooding in the region.

Two tuskers were found dead on Thursday in the Kuttampuzha forest range, which falls under the Malayattoor division, about 50 km from Kochi. Their bodies were spotted in the Pooyamkutty River near Kuttampuzha panchayat.

According to forest officials, both elephants were about 15 years old and had likely fallen from the Pindimed waterfall.

Preliminary examination revealed signs of internal bleeding and fractured ribs, possibly caused by the fall and being swept downstream by strong river currents.

The carcasses appeared to be around two days old.

The carcasses of a female elephant and her calf were recovered near a waterfall about 20 km from the Idamalayar dam. Residents of the Adichilthotti tribal settlement spotted the bodies and informed the authorities.

Forest officials suspect the two elephants may have slipped while attempting to cross the flooded Idamalayar River and plunged down the nearby waterfall.

Malayatoor Divisional Forest Officer P Karthik on Friday told IANS that four carcasses of elephants were found in the division on Thursday. He said that there was nothing unusual about the deaths of the four elephants, which appeared to have occurred due to flooding after heavy rain.

In a separate incident, a pregnant female elephant was found dead in a rivulet at Ayyampuzha, near Angamaly, according to a local media report. The body was located in the Athirappilly forest area, which comes under the Vazhachal division.

Samples of the viscera from all five elephants have been collected and sent for forensic analysis. Following the post-mortem examinations, the elephant carcasses were buried as per protocol.

This is not the first time elephant deaths have been reported during floods in Kerala. In 2018, during the catastrophic monsoon, several elephants were swept away in rivers across Idukki and Wayanad districts.

Similar incidents were reported in 2020 in the Periyar and Parambikulam tiger reserves. The Forest Department has initiated a joint inquiry across all three forest divisions affected.

Officials have also asked local communities to remain alert and report any further sightings or unusual activity along riverbanks.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rajesh Q
Forest department should install warning systems near waterfalls and dangerous river crossings. Elephants are our national heritage - we can't keep losing them like this every monsoon.
A
Aman W
Respect to the tribal community who reported the bodies. Local communities are the real protectors of our forests. Government should involve them more in conservation efforts.
S
Sarah B
The pregnant elephant's death is especially tragic. Climate change is making monsoons more unpredictable and dangerous for wildlife. We need urgent action on both conservation and climate fronts.
V
Vikram M
While this is sad, I wonder if forest officials are doing enough. Same incidents keep happening every year. Maybe need more patrols during heavy rains to guide animals to safer areas.
N
Nisha Z
These elephants are God's creatures 😢 We must protect them better. Maybe build some temporary bridges or ropes during monsoon season? The calf's death breaks my heart.
K
Karthik V
The joint inquiry is good but action is needed. Kerala has brilliant wildlife experts - they should form rapid response teams for monsoon emergencies. Prevention is better than postmortems.

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