Kozhikode: Things have only worsened. The issue of human-wildlife conflict has been inflicting serious wounds on the society of Kerala, with many innocent lives being lost every year. The repeated raids by wild animals into human-inhabited regions are being viewed anxiously by the people living near forest areas, as numerous lives have been lost recently in attacks by wild elephants, tigers, leopards, and wild boars. People are caught unawares in front of a hostile wild animal when they go out to buy things needed at home, go to work or meet others. For many people in the state, life could turn upside down at any time as a wild animal may suddenly appear before them. They live in eternal fear. They live dangerously.

Deaths due to wildlife attacks have become common news. The latest incident of an elephant attack that led to a death occurred in Noolpuzha, Wayanad. On Monday (February 10), while returning after buying goods from the shop, a 45-year-old man, Manu from Unnathi, Kappad, was killed in an elephant attack in the evening. On Monday, a 45-year-old woman named Sofia lost her life in an elephant attack in Peruvanthanam, Idukki. The incident took place around 6 PM in T.R. and T Estate at Peruvanthanam. Sofia was attacked and killed by the elephant while she went to take a bath in the river near her house.

Sofia was the second person to be killed by an elephant in Idukki district in four days, highlighting the intensity of the elephant attacks. In 2024 alone, seven people in the district were killed in elephant attacks, and many others were seriously injured. On the same day, a middle-aged man who had gone to collect forest resources was found dead, trampled by an elephant. The body of Babu (54), from Adiparamba, was found by local residents around 8 PM after a search. Babu had been missing for the past four days. His clothes were first found near the Kulathupuzha forest range in Adiparamba. Later, during a search by relatives and locals, his body was found near a water body, trampled to death by an elephant.

So far, 57 people have died due to wildlife attacks, with the highest number of deaths (15) caused by elephant attacks in the current financial year (2024-25). Eight people were killed in wild boar attacks, one in a tiger attack, and 32 by snake bites. There was also one death caused by a porcupine attack during this period. Meanwhile, in 2025, 12 people have lost their lives in wildlife attacks, with six of them due to elephant attacks. One person was killed in a wild boar attack, one in a tiger attack, and four from snake bites, according to data from the Forest Department. In February alone, five people have died in elephant attacks, and one person from a snake bite.

The deaths caused by wildlife attacks in Kerala from the 2017-18 to the 2024-25 financial year are as follows.