Trekking misadventures should not be celebrated, say forest officials

The recent incident involving a trekker from Kerala who went missing and was later rescued in the forests of Kodagu has highlighted the importance of adhering to forest regulations, according to officials from the Kerala Forest department.

As social media celebrates the trekker for her ‘courage’, the Kerala forest officials dismiss the incident as a stroke of luck and warn the public about the dangers of illegal treks and straying off designated trails, which amount to punishable offence under the Kerala Forest Department Act.

Speaking to The Hindu, Nadapuram native G.S. Saranya, who was rescued from the forests, said she had moved ahead of the group after beginning her descent from the peak at around 10:45 a.m. She was waiting for the two trekkers to join her when she lost her way. “I moved about while waiting for them, and then in an attempt to reach other trekkers, I took another route. But as I went forward, I lost my way,” said Ms. Saranya,

“I survived on water from the stream and slept on the rock for three days,” said the IT professional.

‘Forest trespass’

Emphasising the importance of strictly following the safety guidelines and forest rules regulation during treks, Muhammed Anvar, Assistant Conservator of Forest (Biodiversity Cell), said that moving away from the trekking path amounts to forest trespass and Ms. Saranya could face imprisonment for up to five years.

He further adds that strict rules have been framed around trekking for the welfare of the public. As per Section 27 of the Act, trespass into the forest, which also involves deviating from the trekking path, can elicit punishment of up to five years’ imprisonment. “The law is to ensure the safety of the public. Further, if something untoward had happened, the blame would have been placed on animals,” said Mr. Anvar.

The entire nature of the forest changes when darkness sets in, he added.

“It is a miracle that she survived the stay in the forest. All the carnivores venture out at night to hunt. Moreover, the threat does not just arise from big carnivores or elephants, but just a bite by a scorpion or wasp is extremely dangerous,” he said. For the public, the only rule is to stick to the group and follow the directions of the guide, he said.

Recalling the incident of one Babu, who got stuck in a rock cleft after he slipped while trekking a hill in Malampuzha back in 2022, Mr. Anvar said the State government had spent around ₹78 lakh to rescue him. “We cannot send a wrong message to the public. The person must have escaped because of sheer luck. It is not heroic and we should not be celebrating them. Imitating such misadventures will only attract legal action,” he added.

Forest officials warn that the crucial aspect is whether trekking is permitted or not. “If the Forest department does not allow entry, then there are definite reasons for it,” said Thiruvananthapuram Wildlife Warden S.V. Vinod. He pointed out that only a limited number of trekkers are allowed at Agasthyarkoodam at any given time. “Guides are sent along with each team, and only 100 trekkers are given entry on a single day. Further, only medically fit individuals are allowed to trek. Moreover, trekking is allowed only three days a week. With strict adherence to rules, we have been able to prevent casualties in the last three years,” he added.