Students at a government primary school in Chekadi got an unexpected visitor on Monday when a young elephant calf entered the campus, sparking excitement among the children. The calf, apparently separated from its herd, strolled across the school grounds while classes were in session.
Forest officials arrived promptly, secured the animal, and relocated it to a safe shelter. Earlier in the day, the calf had been rescued from a trench and released back into the forest, but it later wandered into the inhabited area again.
Videos shared by locals showed the little elephant moving along the courtyard and veranda, with children watching eagerly from their classrooms and reacting with laughter and cheers.
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Authorities are continuing efforts to locate the calf’s herd and ensure it is safely reunited.
Meanwhile, man-animal conflict in Wayanad has emerged as a pressing concern, with frequent encounters between humans and wildlife disrupting lives and livelihoods in the ecologically sensitive district. Surrounded by dense forests and rich biodiversity, Wayanad is home to elephants, tigers, leopards, and other species that often stray into human settlements in search of food and water, damaging crops, attacking livestock, and occasionally causing human casualties.
Rapid deforestation, expanding plantations, and habitat fragmentation have intensified these clashes, leaving local communities anxious and economically vulnerable. While the government has introduced measures such as solar-powered fencing, compensation schemes, and early warning systems, conservationists stress that long-term solutions lie in restoring habitats, reducing human intrusion, and creating sustainable coexistence strategies that balance the needs of both people and wildlife.