The Ongoing Saga of Churulikomban: Palakkad’s Notorious Tusker

One recent night, the quiet of Kanchikodu Challankavu in Palakkad was broken when Churulikomban, a well-known wild tusker, entered residential areas again. Villagers woke up to find over ten coconut and plantain trees destroyed on Kamalam’s farm, along with damage to local mango orchards. Despite efforts by forest officials and locals, led by panchayat member PB Gireesh, to send the elephant back to the forest, Churulikomban returned by midnight, leaving the community frightened once more.

Locals believe Churulikomban’s aggressive behavior is due to musth which is a period of high hormones in male elephants that can cause unpredictable and destructive actions. The situation is more tense with another tusker, PT-14, also roaming near highways and homes. Just last month, a tusker from Tamil Nadu caused similar trouble in Chellankavu and Kottamutti. It took forest officials and trained elephants (kunki) a full day to drive it back into the Valayar Nattupathy forests.

Churulikomban, known for his bent right tusk, has been a familiar sight in Palakkad for over ten years. He’s known for his intelligence timing his railway crossings and finding seasonal fruits with ease. Though once blamed for many human elephant conflicts, regular sightings have led some locals to see him as part of their surroundings. Forest officials also say he’s unusually calm during elephant driving efforts and rarely charges at people.

Frequent visits by Churulikomban and other wild elephants have caused fear and sparked debate. Some locals want stricter action, while others are learning to live with the elephants, acknowledging their intelligence and unique behavior. The forest department has stepped up patrols and issued warnings, but balancing human safety with wildlife protection remains a challenge.

Read more at: https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2025/06/26/churulikomban-enters-palakkad-residential-area-wreaks-havoc.html