The Forest department has cleared a major encroachment on a forest land along a wild elephant corridor in Chinnakkanal, near Munnar. According to officials, the department manages a five-hectare pine plantation spread across the Chinnakkanal and Rajakumari villages under the Devikulam forest range. Encroachers had planted cardamom in the catchment area of the Anayirankal dam reservoir — which belongs to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) — and extended the illegal cultivation into the forest department-owned pine plantation.

Devikulam Range Officer Arun Kumar stated that 18 wild elephants, including a well-known tusker named Chakkakompan, roam the area. “The wild elephants drink water from the Anayirankal dam and move through the KSEB catchment area and the pine plantation toward Shankarapandya Mettu,” Mr. Kumar said. “Recently, Chakkakompan attacked a two-wheeler rider in Chinnakkanal. When our team tried to herd the animal back into the woods, it refused to move. During our search to find out why, we discovered the illegal plantation.” He said.

Officials further noted that the encroachers had cordoned off the KSEB land and the pine plantation with heavy iron cables attached to the trees. This was done to prevent wild elephants from entering the illegal cardamom cultivation, but the heavy ropes completely blocked the animals’ natural migration path.

Unreserved land

According to department data, the five-hectare pine plantation sits on unreserved land, with 3.5 hectares falling under Rajakumari village and 1.5 hectares under Chinnakkanal village. On Thursday, forest officials destroyed the illegal cardamom crops and removed the iron cables, successfully clearing the encroachment.

The department will submit a formal report regarding the matter to the KSEB. “We have already registered a case regarding the encroachment,” an official said. “To ensure the area remains clear, the Forest department will construct a treehouse inside the pine plantation and conduct regular route patrolling.” said Mr. Kumar.

Officials emphasised that Chinnakkanal has a very limited forest area to support its population of 18 elephants. “When the elephants’ natural paths and smooth movements are blocked, they are forced into human settlements, which leads to severe human-wildlife conflict,” the official added.