Tourism infrastructure threatens to push elephants out of Mattupetty grasslands in Keralam’s Munnar

A landscape that offers wild elephants food, water and room to roam could be turning into a tourism zone, raising concerns that the loss of natural feeding grounds in Mattupetty, Munnar, may drive the animals closer to roads, plantations and human settlements, escalating the risk of human-elephant conflict.

The grasslands between the Munnar-Top Station road and the Mattupetty reservoir, under the control of the Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB), are frequented by elephant herds. Reports of construction of a watchtower, a roadside ticket counter and wooden fencing arrangements for tourists in the area have triggered concerns for conservationists over the impact of tourism infrastructure on this fragile habitat.

Joint inspection

ANEC Trust, a Kochi-based NGO, has urged the State government to intervene immediately, calling for a joint inspection by the departments concerned, an independent ecological assessment and a halt to further construction and expansion of tourism activities until the project’s impact is established.

“The concern extends beyond the physical structures. Construction, increased tourist footfall, vehicular movement, noise and human presence could disturb elephants and restrict their access to feeding grounds and water sources,” the trust said.

Food, water security

A senior Forest department official said the grassland and reservoir provide critical food and water security for elephant herds in the Devikulam forest range.