A farmer has died in a suspected elephant attack in Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad, Kerala. Rajeev, the victim, had gone to his farm to drive away an elephant when he was found dead. Forest officials await a postmortem to confirm the cause.
On the morning of March 4, 2026, a farmer named Rajeev was found dead in Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad, Kerala. According to residents of Vadakkanad, he had gone to his farm to drive away an elephant that had entered the property. When he did not return, they checked and discovered him lying on the ground, surrounded by elephant footprints, as a local resident told a TV channel.
A senior forest official stated that they cannot confirm the death was due to an elephant attack, and the cause will only be determined after a postmortem examination.
Residents in the area have protested multiple times against animal attacks. They claim to receive very little compensation for crop losses. They also described the hanging fence setup in the region as 'ineffective.'
Wayanad is known for human-wildlife conflicts, which frequently affect farmers. Locals are demanding better protection measures and compensation for such incidents.
