The New Indian Express ·
The not-so-gentle decline of giants in Keralam
ALAPPUZHA: Wild elephant population in Keralam’s forests is on the decline.
In 2005, as many as 5,135 wild jumbos roamed the state’s forests. By 2023, the number dropped by more than half to 2,386 by 2023. And, as per official records, Keralam lost 1,260 wild elephants between 2011 and July 2026.
The forest department attributed a major portion of the deaths to ‘natural causes’ and ‘natural accidents’. However, wildlife conservationists and animal lovers say the real reason may not always be ‘natural’. According to them, largescale poaching continues in the state and that is the major cause behind the decline in the jumbo population.