Elephant attack deaths dip slightly in Keralam; four kumki squads planned

Wild elephants killed 102 people in Keralam over the past five financial years, the Forest department told the Assembly, with deaths falling from 27 in 2022-23 to 22 now. Forest Minister Shibu Baby John cited AI cameras, drone squads, SMS alerts and smart fences as safeguards, and said the state plans four kumki elephant squads to manage wild herds.