Kozhikode: A wild elephant attacked and damaged the house of an elderly couple at Marathode near Kakkadampoyil on Wednesday night, sparking renewed concerns over human-wildlife conflict in the region. The house belongs to V.J. Joseph and his wife, who had a narrow escape during the incident.
Locals reported that a section of the tile-roofed house collapsed due to the force of the attack. Despite suggestions to relocate, the couple chose to stay on, and the damaged portion was temporarily repaired with the help of local workers.
This is the second elephant-related incident in the area this week. On July 8, wild elephants overturned a parked vehicle near Thenaruvi, causing panic among residents.
Meanwhile, jurisdictional confusion between Kozhikode and Malappuram forest divisions is allegedly hampering timely intervention. A local farmers’ association leader accused forest squads of indifference and said villages on the district border are being neglected by Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) due to jurisdictional disputes.
In response, Forest Department officials said RRTs are already deployed in the area and that senior officers will visit soon to assess the situation and plan preventive measures.