Kottayam: Papathichola Medu in the Chinnacanal panchayat where the revenue department officials removed a cross established by the prayer group ‘Spirit in Jesus’ comes under the ‘Munnar-Anayirangal elephant corridor, according to information available with the state forest department. There are also a few other elephant corridors in Idukki district including the Nagarampara- Ayyapancoil corridor, Mathikettan corridor and Shanthanpara passage.
“The Papathichola Medu is contiguous with the Munnar-Anayirangal elephant corridor and hence the area comes under that corridor. The existence of these Elephant Corridors make some of the places in Idukki very sensitive as conflict situations may arise in the region which already has enough problems,” Amit Mallik, field director, Project Tiger and Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife told Deccan Chronicle.
Habitats are inviolate spaces inside forests through which the animals can freely move around. The animals may move more than one hundred to two hundred kilometres in these places depending on the season and their requirements.
The district also has a number of habitats including the Chinnar wildlife sanctuary, Pampadum Cholai National park, Eravikulam National Park. Construction activities will gradually endanger the life of animals present at these places, it is believed.
“Any kind of constructions or interventions at these places may endanger the elephant corridors and habitats. The government should take necessary actions banning the constructions at these places”, Dr P.S. Esa, former Director of the Kerala Forest Research Institute at Peechi told Deccan Chronicle.
