Attack on jumbo: Dept to act tough

Idukki: The forest department has decided to act against those people who allegedly pelted stones at the popular local wild elephant ‘Padayappa’. This follows visuals spreading in the social media showing two people, apparently estate workers, pelting stones at the tusker after taking selfies with Padayappa in the background.

The alleged incident took place at Thenmala lower division under Kannan Devan plantations (KDHP) in Munnar. The stone pelting was captured by a tractor driver who came to the spot during the incident.

The forest department decided to act after M N Jayachandran, member of Kerala State Animal Welfare Board filed a complaint. “I have filed a complaint with chief wildlife warden and district collector to take action against the miscreants," he said.

“We will check the images and take strict action against those involved," said Munnar range officer Suchindranath M S. "Padayappa does not harm anybody and the tusker is familiar to local people. Frequently seen on Munnar-Marayoor roadside, the elephant never attacks vehicles or people,” said the official.

Padayappa, named after the eponymous character in Tamil superstar Rajanikanth’s 1999 film, is popular among local people as well as visitors. In a place notorious for man-elephant conflict, this peace-loving tusker with unusually long tusks is an exception.