Wild animal scare: Wayanad indefinitely closes tourist centres

Kalpetta: All the eco-tourism centres under the forest department in Wayanad have been closed indefinitely due to the increase in wildlife attacks.

It also includes sites such as Kurua Island and Soochipara Falls. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest D Jayaprasad informed that the centres will not be opened until further notice.

Meanwhile, MP of Wayanad Rahul Gandhi met the families of the victims of wild animal attacks there and later held meetings with district authorities. He urged the Kerala government to release the monetary compensation for the victims immediately, The Telegraph reported.

Rahul visited the families of the three victims and assured them of help, such as taking the initiative to talk with both the state and Centre to bring lasting solutions to human-animal conflicts.

Rahul Gandhi said that he wasn’t able to contact state Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan but asked the government to take all necessary measures to contain human-animal conflict in Kerala.

According to The Telegraph, what Rahul demanded in the review meeting was an immediate dispensation of the compensations, measures to contain human-wild animal conflicts and a quick clearance to a well-equipped medical college in Wayanad’s Kalpetta.

Rahul said that when a poor family loses a member, delivering compensation after a long time is not good enough. It should be paid immediately because they need money.

On the need for a medical college in Kalpetta, he explained that the medical college in Mananthavady is not well equipped, though it is just 30km away. Patients are often referred to Kozhikode Medical College, which is 90km away, he reminded.

Further, he asked to increase the size of the forest department’s rapid response team.

Wild animal attacks claimed three people in the last three weeks.