Kerala’s iconic wild elephant ‘Chillikomban’ dies after being washed away in Parambikulam Aliyar Project contour canal
Chillikomban, a well-known wild elephant in Kerala, died after being swept away in a canal on May 23, 2026. Despite rescue efforts, the elephant could not be saved due to the strong currents in the water. The incident has raised concerns about wildlife safety measures in the area, especially following a similar incident earlier this year.
- ▪Chillikomban was trapped in the Parambikulam Aliyar Project contour canal while attempting to drink water.
- ▪The elephant was found dead after rescue attempts failed due to its weight and the strong current.
- ▪Authorities have been alerted to retrieve the carcass from the Thirumoorthy Dam where the canal drains.
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‘Chillikomban’, a majestic wild elephant that largely roamed around Kerala’s Nelliampathi hills as its home range, died after being washed away in strong currents in the contour canal of the Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) in Coimbatore district on Saturday (May 23, 2026).The tusker got trapped in the PAP contour canal in Pachathannir forest beat, under the Sethumadai east section of the Pollachi forest range in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), around 4 p.m. on Saturday, reportedly while attempting to drink water.
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