Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Minister Shibu Baby John has directed the forest department to form a 500-member special reserve force to prevent elephant attacks. The special reserve force will operate round the clock and patrol conflict-prone areas, he said.
The move comes after a female elephant killed Idukki native Mariamma (36) at Chinnakanal and injured her son Rakshan (11) on Monday, and another wild elephant killed Raju (65) in Wayanad on Wednesday.
Composition and responsibilities of the force
The initiative aims to reduce the risks posed by wildlife and effectively ease human-wildlife conflicts by setting up 100 units, each consisting of five members, in hotspots where elephant presence is frequently reported. The special reserve force will include members of tribal communities familiar with areas affected by wildlife movement, retired forest department experts, experienced residents, and individuals with technical knowledge, said John.
The team's key responsibilities include:
- Continuously tracking elephant routes and movements
- Ensuring public safety by issuing timely warnings directly and on various media whenever elephants are spotted in or around residential areas
- Regularly checking and maintaining the effectiveness of wildlife deterrent systems, including solar-powered fences installed along forest borders
- Providing support and assistance to rapid response teams engaged in safely driving elephants into the forest when they approach human habitats
- Taking part in conflict-mitigation efforts
Opposition criticizes government response
Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan said the state government must adopt a more responsible approach while dealing with wild animal attacks. Within two weeks, six people were killed in such incidents in the state. Criticism has emerged that no responsible officer or elected representative reached the spot or assessed the situation, he claimed.
Vijayan added that there are systems in place to prevent wild animals from entering human settlements and ways to capture or drive away dangerous ones. He alleged that after a change in government, these protective measures were not deployed effectively.
Such repeated attacks and loss of lives further underline this failure. Standing with vulnerable people and offering them relief is one of the basic duties of the government. Any attempt to evade that responsibility is anti-people. Those concerned must intervene without delay, he said.
Vijayan condoled the deaths and said immediate assistance should be provided to these families. He said compensation must also be given to those who suffered crop loss in animal attacks.
