Chinnakkanal human-elephant issue man-made, says Keralam Forest Minister

Forest Minister Shibu Baby John inaugurating the State-Level Wildlife Week celebrations at Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady on Monday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Human–elephant conflict in Chinnakkanal is man-made, and the human settlement there was allotted based on a Forest department proposal, Forest Minister Shibu Baby John said while inaugurating the State-Level Wildlife Week celebrations at Thekkady on Monday (October 5, 2026).

Earlier, officials claimed that during 2002–2003, the A.K. Antony government decided to establish the 301 Colony human settlement in Chinnakkanal despite opposition from then Munnar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Prakriti Srivastava. The government proceeded with the project, leading to persistent conflict in the area.