A wild tusker locally called Padayappa at Devikulam near Munnar in Idukki. (File photo) | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT The Munnar landscape recorded the highest number of human fatalities caused by wild elephant attacks in Keralam, with 103 people losing life in such attacks in the last 18 years, according to a recent study by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The report was prepared with the support of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Covering the period between 2008 and 2025, the study recorded 581 human deaths, 1,200 injuries, and a total of 1,781 human-elephant conflict (HEC) incidents resulting in death or injury across Keralam. The report primarily examined the seasonal patterns behind these casualties. As per the Synchronised All India Elephant Estimation (SAIEE), the State has 2,785 wild elephants.  Among specific regions, the Munnar landscape topped the list with 103 human deaths, followed by the Kottayam forest division with 88 deaths and the Nilambur division with 75 human fatalities. The study also highlighted that males formed the majority of victims among both humans …