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The Munnar panchayat-operated dumping yard at Kallar is posing a threat to wild elephants in the hill station, with wild elephants, especially an elephant locally called Ottakompan entering the yard to consume plastic-laden vegetable waste.
Vimal Raj, a wildlife photographer tracking the movements of wild elephants in Munnar, said he found the tusker consuming plastic-filled waste from the yard.
“I took pictures of the elephant consuming plastic mixed with vegetable waste from the yard. Due to the ready availability of food, the animal is camping at the yard. Regular consumption of plastic-filled vegetable waste may pose a threat to the life of the elephant,” says Mr. Raj.
For the past two years, wild elephants are regularly seen at the yard in Kallar. Forest officials say the yard is posing a threat to local wildlife. “Wild elephants, wild gaurs and other animals are regularly seen at the yard,” says an official.
R. Mohan, president of the Munnar Environment and Wildlife Society (MEWS), says the yard in Kallar has emerged as a major threat to wild elephants. “Munnar’s popular tusker Padayappa is a regular visitor to the area. For the past two years, MEWS has repeatedly approached the authorities to find a solution to the issue but to no avail,” he says.
Munnar Range officer S. Biju says the Forest department had directed the Munnar panchayat to fix a solar fence around the plant.
“The department has also requested the panchayat to provide a pump-action gun to the department to chase away wild animals from the plant. The panchayat was also directed to install a real-time camera at the plant to monitor the movements of wild elephants. At a recent meeting called by the Forest Minister in Idukki, the Munnar panchayat secretary agreed to install solar fence soon,” he says.
Munnar panchayat secretary G.P. Udayakumar says the panchayat had allotted ₹8 lakh for setting up a solar fence at the yard. “The works have begun and are expected to be completed soon,” he says.
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