---
title: "Kerala Conservationists Sound Alarm Over Development in Critical Elephant Pathway"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/periya-pakranthalam-elephant-corridor-land-use-conflict-kerala-31z6w
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: India
published: 2026-08-08T05:43:21.000Z
modified: 2026-08-08T09:03:41.841Z
language: en-IN
---

# Kerala Conservationists Sound Alarm Over Development in Critical Elephant Pathway

Environmental groups have filed formal complaints regarding excavation and land development threatening the Periya-Pakranthalam wildlife corridor. Experts warn that obstructing this bottleneck will likely drive displaced elephants into local agricultural settlements, escalating human-wildlife confli

## Key takeaways

- The ANEC Trust has requested an immediate halt to excavation activities in the Pakranthalam bottleneck to protect Asian elephant migration routes.
- A legal case was registered following unauthorized tree felling on private land adjacent to the Wayanad Elephant Reserve's vested forest boundaries.
- Environmentalists are citing Supreme Court mandates to argue that functional wildlife corridors must remain free of commercial construction.
- Forest officials are coordinating with revenue and local authorities to assess the impact of land development on regional human-wildlife conflict.

## Why It Matters

The Periya-Pakranthalam corridor serves as a vital biological bridge, connecting the Aralam, Kottiyur, Periya, Kannavam, Pakranthalam, and Padinharathara landscapes. Wildlife experts argue that preserving this connectivity is essential for the seasonal migration and genetic health of Asian elephants within the Wayanad Elephant Reserve. If this bottleneck is obstructed, animals are forced to deviate into human habitats, leading to property damage, crop destruction, and potential loss of life for both humans and elephants.

## Key Facts

- T.S. Santosh, founder of the Animal and Nature Ethics Community (ANEC) Trust, has petitioned senior forest officials to stop ongoing land use changes.
- Existing infrastructure, including the Mananthavady-Kuttiyadi road and a mobile communication tower, already restricts movement at the Pakranthalam site.
- Recent reports indicate large-scale earth removal and excavation by private landowners, which may permanently alter the terrain.
- B.N. Anjankumar, Chief Conservator of Forest (Northern Circle), confirmed that a case was registered under the Kerala Promotion of Tree Growth in Non Forest Areas Act for unauthorized tree felling.
- The Supreme Court has previously ruled that authorities must protect functional wildlife routes, even if they are not formally notified as corridors.

## Background

The Pakranthalam bottleneck is currently under intense pressure from private development. While the land is privately owned, it shares boundaries with vested forests, placing it in an ecologically sensitive zone. The ANEC Trust contends that recent excavation activities encourage the conversion of forest-adjacent land for commercial purposes, undermining the long-term conservation goals of the Wayanad Elephant Reserve. The Trust is citing legal precedents, such as the Segur Plateau elephant corridor rulings, to demand the removal of illegal obstructions.

## What Happens Next

The ANEC Trust has called for a high-level expert committee under Project Elephant to evaluate the corridor's ecological health and submit a report within 30 days. Forest officials have notified district administrators and geologists to review the legality of the land alterations. While the Revenue department holds jurisdiction over land use permissions, the Forest department is currently assessing how commercial development in this sector will impact regional corridor functionality. Further enforcement actions await a detailed review by the Divisional Forest Officer.

Source: The Hindu — National

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/periya-pakranthalam-elephant-corridor-land-use-conflict-kerala-31z6w
Reported from: The Hindu — National