'Killer' Elephant relocated in Kerala.

An Elephant alleged to have killed a number of people in Kerala State, India, has been relocated to a Tiger reserve away from Human populations. The Elephant, a 36-year-old male named Arikomban, is claimed to have killed seven people during raids on Rice stores in the area around Devikulam Forest in Idukki District, although this has been disputed People for Animals, an Indian Animal welfare organization, who claim their investigations have been unable to find any instances of people being directly harmed by the Elephant. What is not disputed, however, is that Arikomban is a notorious Rice-thief, and while he was able to take Rice from older Bamboo-and-Grass stores without causing much damage, as concrete and other modern building materials have become more common, the Elephant has been increasingly causing damage to property during his raids, fueling conflict with local Human populations, who have been petitioning the Kerala Forest Department to have him relocated.

The Elephant, Arikomban, being relocated on Saturday 29 April 2023. Arun Chandrabose/BBC.

Arikomban has been living around Humans since 1987, when he was a calf and his mother sustained a leg injury and was looked after by villagers near Chinnakkanal, before eventually perishing. Since that time he has tended to live around Humans, and had few interactions with other Elephants. This has included raiding Rice stores for food, something which was for a long time tolerated, but which has become more of an issue over time as the Human population has grown, a problem which has been repeated across India in recent years, where 30 000 wild Asian Elephants (60% of the global total) now co-exist with 1.4 billion Humans (18% of the global total).

Arikomban foraging on a Tea estate in Idukki District, prior to his capture. New Indian Express.

The Kerala Forest department initially applied to the Kerala High Court for permission to take Arikomban into captivity, but this was rejected following opposition from Animal welfare groups. A plan was then devised to move the Elephant to the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, about 175 km from the area where he has been living, but this was opposed by people living close to the reserve, who were alarmed by Arikomban's reputation. Following this, it was decided to relocate the Elephant to the Periyar Tiger Reserve, about 80 km from Arikomban's current home. Concerns were raised that the local Human population around Periyar might also reject Arikomban, but this appears not to have been the case, with large crowds turning out to great the Elephant as he was brought to the reserve. 

Crowds of well-wishers greeting Arikomban as he arrived at the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Manorama.

Arikomban is reported to have received a deep cut on the trunk during his capture, for which he was treated before being released. He was also fitted with a radio collar to monitor his progress. He was provided with several barrels of water laced with antibiotics for his wound, which were later found overturned, as well as several stores of food which it is hoped will help sustain him while he adapts to foraging in the wild. Tracking collar data has revealed that he was approached by a small herd of six local Elephants shortly after his release, but that these retreated without any apparent interaction.

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Elephant crashes into kitchen in Thailand.

A Thai woman woken by a loud crashing noise was surprised to find the head of a large male Elephant protruding into her kitchen. Rachadawan Phungprasopporn, 29, of the village of Chalermkiat Pattana in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, was disturbed at about 2.00 am local time on Saturday 20 June 2021, and found that part of the exterior wall of her kitchen had been demolished by the Elephant, identified as Boonchuay, a large male who (mostly) resides in the nearby Kaeng Krachan National Park. Boonchuay spent some time rummaging through the contents of the kitchen, apparently looking for something to eat, before leaving. Intrusions by Elephants from the park have become a problem in Chalermkiat Pattana, particularly on market days, when they are attracted by the smell of food. This is the second time Ms Phungprasopporn's home has been damaged by an Elephant, with the incident on this occasion causing an estimated 50 000 baht (US$1565) in damage, although the national park have agreed to pay for the repairs.

 

An Asian Elephant named Boonchuay exploring a kitchen for food. Rachadawan Phungprasopporn/The Guardian.

The wild Elephant population of Thailand has fallen from about 100 000 in 1850 to about 2700, largely due to deforestation and Human expansion into their range. Many animals will simply flee such incursions, or, if unable to, are likely to end up in the cooking pots of hungry villagers. Elephants, however, are a somewhat different proposition. They are large animals, not used to being challenged by other animals in their home ranges, and typically live in matriarchal herds of up to a hundred, with herds holding large territories, criss-crossed by Elephant trails. Elephants encountering Human objects they dislike are unlikely to attempt to go round it, and are quite likely to maximise the damage they cause to show their displeasure.

Residents of Chalermkiat Pattana and neighbouring villages are reported to be reasonably well disposed towards the Elephants, and willing to work with park authorities to find a solution to incursions, which cause regular damage to homes, businesses and crops in the area. However, Elephant incursions can be extremely damaging, and if remedies are not found, and the number of Elephant-related incidents continues to rise, there is clearly the potential for a break down in such good relations.

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Elephant dies after consuming explosives in Kerela State, India.

An Elephant has died after consuming a Pineapple filled with explosives in Kerala State, India. The incident happened on 23 May 2020 in village near the Silent Valley National Park in Palakkad District, when the Animal is believed to have consumed a 'Pig Cracker', a fruit filled with explosives used to deter Wild Pig, which are a serious agricultural pest, something widely used in India and Sri Lanka. The Elephant, a fifteen-year-old female that was pregnant at the time, is reported to have received severe injuries to the mouth and face, and despite attempts by local wildlife officials and vets to provide treatment, died on 27 May while standing in a river near the village, apparently in an attempt to relieve the pain of the injury.

A fifteen-year-old female Elephant that died in a river in Palakkad District, Kerala, on 27 May 2020, several days after eating a Pineapple laced with explosives. AFP.

The incident has prompted widespread outrage in India, with many leading politicians and celebrities calling for those responsible to be brought to justice. The incident is being investigated by the Indian Forest Service, with several people having been arrested and interrogated. This situation has been made more complex by a rumour that the death happened in Malappuram District, to the west of Palakkad, which has a largely Muslim population, something which some politicians appear to be using to fuel sectarian differences across India.

An Indian Elephant injured by explosives hidden within a Pineapple in Kerala State stood in a river near where the incident happened for four days before dying, apparently in an attempt to alleviate the pain of the injury. Mohan Krishnan/Indian Forest Service.

The population of India has risen from 376 million in 1950 to 1339 million today, fuelling an expansion of both urban and agricultural land use into former wilderness areas. The wild Elephant population has declined over the same period, but still stands at about 27 000. Many animals will simply flee such incursions, or, if unable to, are likely to end up in the cooking pots of hungry villagers. Elephants, however, are a somewhat different proposition. They are large animals, not used to being challenged by other animals in their home ranges, and typically live in matriarchal herds of up to a hundred, with herds holding large territories, criss-crossed by Elephant trails. A herd of Elephants encountering a new Human settlement, particularly a poorly defended structure, are unlikely to attempt to go round it, and are quite likely to maximise the damage they cause to show their displeasure. This has resulted in an increasing cycle of Elephant-Human conflict in rural areas of India, with 2361 people killed by Elephants between 2014 and 2019, while in the same period 510 Elephants were killed by people.

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Elephas maximus sumatrensis: Two Sumatran Elephants found dead within a week.

Authorities in Indonesia are investigating after two Sumatran Elephants, Elephas maximus sumatrensis, were found dead within the last week. The first Elephant, a 40-year-old male, was found in a plantation near Bengkalis in Riau Province on Tuesday 19 November 2019, having been decapitated and having its tusks removed. The cause of death of this animal is unclear, as it had no other injuries and was showing no signs of poisoning (it is unlikely that anybody managed to decapitate a living Elephant). The second Elephant was a 25-year-old female found on a timber plantation in Peureulak District, Aceh Province, on Wednesday 20 November. It had been dead for about a week when it was found, and showed no signs of any physical injuries, and authorities are investigating if it may have been poisoned or electrocuted.

Vetenery surgions inspecting a male Elephant found dead on a plantation near Bengkalis in Riau Province, Indonesia, on Tuesday 19 November 2019. AFP.

Many animals will simply flee such incursions, or, if unable to, are likely to end up in the cooking pots of hungry villagers. Elephants, however, are a somewhat different proposition. They are large animals, not used to being challenged by other animals in their home ranges, and typically live in matriarchal herds of up to a hundred, with herds holding large territories, criss-crossed by Elephant trails. A herd of Elephants encountering a new Human construction are unlikely to attempt to go round it, and are quite likely to maximise the damage they cause to show their displeasure. This has become a particular fuel of conflict in Indonesia, where a rapidly expanding Palm Oil industry has intruded on the Elephant's natural environment, and the Elephants have discovered that the fruit of the Oil Palm is an excellent form of food.

Indonesian police officers inspecting a female Elephant found dead on a plantation in Peureulak District on Wednesday 20 November 2019. Cek Mad/Antara Foto/Reuters.

The Sumatran Elephant Elephas maximus sumatrensis, is a subspecies of the Asian Elephant, Elephas maximus, found on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. The subspecies is considered to be Critically  Endangered in the wild under the terms of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species, with less than 2000 individuals thought to be surviving in the wild, fragmented into 20 fragmented populations. The species is threatened by habitat loss due to Human activities and direct hunting for their ivory.

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Elephant kills five villagers during rampage in Assam State, India.

Five villagers, including an eleven-year-old boy have been killed by a rampaging Elephant. The incident happened on Wednesday 30 October 2019 in the village of Bolatar in Goalpara District, after a male Elephant thought to be in musth (a periodic condition in bull Elephants in which a rise in reproductive hormones leads to highly aggressive behaviour) entered the village. The Elephant is now being tracked by Forest Service officials using tame Elephants and a drone borrowed from the Kaziranga National Park, with a view to tranquilisisng the animal and relocating it to a more suitable area. The Elephant was spotted on 1 November in the Chatabari Forest Reserve.

An Elephant believed to have killed five villagers in Goalpara District, Assam, on 30 October 2019 spotted by a drone in the Chatabari Forest Reserve on 1 November. VCG.

The population of India has risen from 376 million in 1950 to  1339 million today, fuelling an expansion of both urban and agricultural land use into former wilderness areas. Many animals will simply flee such incursions, or, if unable to, are likely to end up in the cooking pots of hungry villagers. Elephants, however, are a somewhat different proposition. They are large animals, not used to being challenged by other animals in their home ranges, and typically live in matriarchal herds of up to a hundred, with herds holding large territories, criss-crossed by Elephant trails. A herd of Elephants encountering a new Human settlement, particularly a poorly defended structure, are unlikely to attempt to go round it, and are quite likely to maximise the damage they cause to show their displeasure. Assam State is very much at the front line of this conflict, with over 750 people and 250 Elephants killed in conflicts between the two species since 2010.

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Kaziranga National Par Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/drone-tracks-assams-rogue-elephant-in-musth-772811.html

Kaziranga National Park

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/drone-tracks-assams-rogue-elephant-in-musth-772811.htmlKa

Goalpara district

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/drone-tracks-assams-rogue-elephant-in-musth-772811.html

Goalpara district

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/drone-tracks-assams-rogue-elephant-in-musth-772811.html

Elephas maximus borneensis: Four people arrested after Borneo Elephant killed by poachers in Sabah State.

Four people have been arrested in Sabah State, Borneo, following the death of a Borneo Pygmy Elephant, Elephas maximus borneensis, last week. The male Elephant calf was found on Wednesday 25 September 2019, near Dumpas in Tawau District, tied to a log and shot more than 70 times according to the Sabah Wildlife Department. Its tusks had been hacked off, leading to suspicions that the killing was by poachers looking for ivory, though the somewhat amateurish nature of the killing suggests that it may have been done by local people rather that experienced Elephant hunters. Police in Tawau District announced early on Wednesday 2 October that four people, described as three Malaysians and a foreign national, have been arrested in connection with the incident and a number of firearms seized. The suspects have been charged with firearms offences, and further charges under the Wildlife Protection Enactment may follow.

An Elephant calf found shot multiple times and tied to a log near Dunpas in Tawau District, Sabah, on 25 September 2019. It is thought that the body may have been tied to a the log to that the body would be eaten by Crocodiles rather that floating away from what the poachers hopped was a remote spot. AFP.

Borneo Pygmy Elephants, Elephas maximus borneensis, are considered to be a subspecies of the Asian Elephant, Elephas maximus. They were generally believed to be the decedents of working Elephants introduced by the Sultan of Sulu in the eighteenth century, until a genetic study published in 2003, suggested that they were a distinct lineage that has lived in isolation on the island for much longer, a finding which may eventually lead to them being reclassified as a separate species. The Asian Elephant is considered to be Endangered in the wild under the terms of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. The Borneo Pygmy Elephants do not have a separate assessment, but are known to be suffering from habitat fragmentation due to the expansion of large plantations of crops such as Palm oil in the areas of northern Borneo where they live, as well as increasing conflict with Humans driven both by the value of their tusks and their tendency to damage crops.

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Sabah wildlife department

Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/01/endangered-pygmy-elephant-found-riddled-70-bullets-tusk-poachers-10837009/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

Sabah wildlife department

Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/01/endangered-pygmy-elephant-found-riddled-70-bullets-tusk-poachers-10837009/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

Sabah wildlife department

Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/01/endangered-pygmy-elephant-found-riddled-70-bullets-tusk-poachers-10837009/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

Sabah wildlife department

Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/01/endangered-pygmy-elephant-found-riddled-70-bullets-tusk-poachers-10837009/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

Villager attacked by Elephant after collision with car in Thailand.

A villager has been badly injured after being attacked by an Elephant believed to have been in a collision with a car in the Thong Pha Phum District of Kanchanaburi Province in central Thailand on Saturday 31 August 2019. The initial incident happened happened on Highway 323 at about 1.10 am local time, when the animal was hit by a Toyota Fortuner, driven by a Myanmar national identified as Yi Teng, resulting in the vehicle being overturned and the driver injured. Following the incident officials from the Thong Pha Phum National Park and local villagers formed search parties to look for the Elephant, due to concerns that it might be injured. At about 2.00 pm local time a team of three searchers encountered a male Elephant, estimated to have been about 8-10 years old and weighing about 4000 kg, about 500 m from the scene of the original accident. The Elephant attacked the group, resulting in one of the men Tewan Munnut, 26, being trampled and suffering a broken rib and punctured lung. He is being treated at the Phahon Phonphayuhasena Hospital in Kanchanaburi.

 The scene of an accident in which a car was overturned in an encounter with an Elephant in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand, on 31 August 2019. Kanchanaburi Rescue Foundation.

The wild Elephant population of Thailand has fallen from about 100 000 in 1850 to about 2700, largely due to deforestation and Human expansion into their range. Many animals will simply flee such incursions, or, if unable to, are likely to end up in the cooking pots of hungry villagers. Elephants, however, are a somewhat different proposition. They are large animals, not used to being challenged by other animals in their home ranges, and typically live in matriarchal herds of up to a hundred, with herds holding large territories, criss-crossed by Elephant trails. Elephants encountering Human objects they dislike are unlikely to attempt to go round it, and are quite likely to maximise the damage they cause to show their displeasure.

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