Tourism Development Severely Fragments Kerala's Vital Elephant Corridors
In the verdant landscapes of Kerala, tourism-related construction activities are increasingly fragmenting crucial elephant corridors across the state, exacerbating the already tense human-wildlife conflict. The latest flashpoint involves a commercial project named Komachi Park, which is being aggressively developed in North Wayanad, perilously close to the ecologically sensitive Kottiyur–Periya elephant corridor.
Environmental Trust Sounds Alarm with Urgent Petition
Raising a significant alarm, the ANEC Trust has filed a formal petition before the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Kerala State Forest Department. The petition seeks urgent governmental intervention to halt the ongoing construction work immediately. According to the detailed complaint, the Komachi Park project site lies a mere 750 meters from the corridor, which is recognized as one of the country's 150 identified key elephant passages essential for pachyderm movement and genetic exchange.
The petitioners have highlighted that although the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority forwarded a representation on December 20, 2025, calling for urgent action, no effective steps have been taken by the authorities so far. This representation specifically flagged the issue of construction obstructing natural elephant movement and intensifying human–elephant conflicts in the region.
Illegal Construction Near Protected Sanctuary
The petition states that illegal commercial construction under the Komachi Park project has been ongoing for nearly two years at Boys Town in North Wayanad, near the Kannur–Wayanad border, and has gained dangerous momentum recently. Critically, the site falls within one kilometer of the Kottiyur Wildlife Sanctuary, placing it squarely inside the notified Eco-Sensitive Zone of a protected area. This zoning is designed to buffer core wildlife habitats from developmental pressures.
Environmental experts point out that the location is particularly critical because it lies within the narrowest bottleneck of the Kottiyur–Periya Elephant Corridor—less than 50 meters wide—near the Palchuram Ghat road crossing. This slender stretch is considered the only viable passage for elephants moving between the adjoining forest blocks of Periya Range and Kottiyur Sanctuary.
Ecological and Geological Vulnerabilities Compounded
The site is also situated along the riparian buffer of the Ambayathode stream, a vital tributary of the Valapattanam River that flows down the steep western slopes of the Western Ghats. At an elevation of about 2,400 feet above sea level, the area is officially classified as landslide-prone, adding a layer of geological risk to the ecological threat.
The Kottiyur–Periya corridor forms a crucial ecological link between the Periya Range of the North Wayanad forest division and the Kottiyur Wildlife Sanctuary in Kannur district. This linkage allows for seasonal migration and genetic flow between elephant populations.
Imminent Risks to Communities and Wildlife
The petition warns emphatically that continued construction will irrevocably fragment this vital linkage. Such fragmentation would likely divert elephant movement into human-dominated areas, including the panchayats of Thavinhal, Thirunelli, Kottiyur, and Kelakom. This diversion heightens risks substantially, posing grave dangers to both local human communities and the wildlife, potentially leading to more frequent and severe conflict incidents, crop raids, and tragic casualties on both sides.
The situation underscores a growing tension between tourism-driven economic development and critical wildlife conservation efforts in Kerala's biodiverse regions, demanding a balanced and legally compliant approach to land use.
