Arikompan, the wild elephant known for his love of rice and penchant for raiding homes and shops in pursuit of his favourite food, was relocated from his native habitat in Chinnakkanal near Munnar to Thekkady in the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) one year ago, on April 29, 2023. The decision sparked a flurry of online and offline protests, with many urging for his return to his natural habitat in Chinnakkanal.
Santhosh P.G., leading the Chinnakkanal Rapid Response Team (RRT) responsible for managing human-wildlife conflicts and overseeing the translocation, said, “the rampant incidents of home and shop raids, which posed significant challenges for both the residents and the forest department, saw a considerable reduction in Chinnakkanal following the translocation..
After persistent protests from locals in Chinnakkanal and Singukandam in Munnar, the tusker was eventually captured near Cement Palam on April 29 and relocated to the Periyar Tiger Reserve the next day.
