An injured wild tusker, which got trapped in a disused well inside a private property in the residential neighbourhood of Koovappara in Kuttampuzha panchayat, near Kothamangalam in Ernakulam, on Tuesday was rescued and released into the forest desite stiff public protest against releasing the animal back into the forest.

The elephant, a frequent intruder in the area with a partially severed trunk, fell into the well around 5 a.m. on Tuesday (July 7, 2026). Forest department sources said the tusker was being closely monitored by officials. The injury to the animal’s tusk is not problematic either as it is healing, said a senior official.

Rescue operations led by the Malayattoor Divisional Forest Officer were delayed after residents insisted that the animal, once rescued, should be shifted to the elephant training centre at Kodanad and treated rather than released into the wild. They argued that the injured tusker was incapable of finding food on its own and would inevitably return to residential areas.

“The elephant had been roaming in the region for quite some time, damaging crops and posing a threat to people’s safety. There are other elephant herds in the area as well. Residents also want an additional unit of the Forest rapid reaction team posted here,” said Mary Kuriakose, president of Kuttampuzha panchayat.

Reports suggested that the elephant sustained injury to its trunk prior to the fall. Local residents remain unconvinced by the Forest authorities’ assurances of fencing along the forest fringes to keep wildlife at bay. “The forest border stretches for several kilometres. It is not practical to fence the entire stretch. Moreover, even as fencing is being installed, existing fences often get damaged by incidents like tree falls and remain unrepaired,” said a resident.

People fear that if the elephant returns to residential areas and aggravates its injury, they may be held responsible.