Environmentalists flag land use changes in Periya-Pakranthalam elephant corridor

Published 8 August 2026 · science

Environmentalists have raised serious concerns over the alleged land use changes in the Periya-Pakranthalam (Periya-Pannippad) elephant corridor, warning that ongoing excavation and construction activities could obstruct elephant movement, worsen habitat fragmentation, and trigger a rise in human-elephant conflict across north Kerala. The Animal and Nature Ethics Community Trust has submitted a representation to senior forest department officials seeking immediate intervention to protect the ecologically sensitive corridor. The Trust, represented by its founder T.S. Santosh, has urged the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, the Chief Wildlife Warden, the Chief Conservator of Forests (Northern Circle), the Wildlife Warden of Kottiyur Wildlife Division, and the Divisional Forest Officer (North Wayanad) to halt ongoing land use changes and restore the functional integrity of the corridor. “The Periya-Pakranthalam corridor is a vital landscape connectivity that ensures elephant movement across the Aralam-Kottiyur-Periya-Kannavam-Pakranthalam-Padinharathara landscape. Any blockage at Pakranthalam will inevitably increase human-elephant conflict in the surrounding areas,” Mr. Santosh said. The corridor is one of the most important movement routes for Asian elephants within the Wayanad Elephant Reserve, enabling seasonal migration, maintaining genetic exchange between elephant populations, and reducing encounters with human settlements.

The Trust alleged that the Pakranthalam bottleneck is already under considerable pressure due to existing obstructions, including a mobile communication tower and related infrastructure buildings on private land, and the busy Mananthavady-Kuttiyadi road, all of which restrict elephant movement. Santosh said express excavation and large-scale earth removal activities were being carried out in the bottleneck area by a private landowner, potentially altering the terrain permanently and encouraging further conversion of land for non-forest purposes. “If these activities continue unchecked, the effective width of the corridor will be narrowed or completely blocked, forcing elephants into nearby settlements and agricultural lands. This will inevitably result in increased crop damage, destruction of property, threat to human life, and greater risk of elephants being killed or injured in road accidents,“ he said. The Trust also contended that such alterations could undermine long-term conservation efforts in the Wayanad Elephant Reserve and weaken one of the region’s most critical wildlife corridors. Citing directions issued by the Supreme Court on elephant corridor protection, including orders relating to the Segur Plateau elephant corridor, Mr. Santosh stated that authorities are under legal obligation to identify, inspect, and remove illegal obstructions from elephant corridors.