By Thamanna Sadique
Once adored for its affectionate and friendly nature, Padayappa the wild elephant has changed into aggressive mode. This sudden change in behaviour is because of musth. It is a phase in which male elephants are struck by high testosterone levels, which ultimately leads to heightened aggression.
Padayappa, the wild tusker is now creating a sense of anxiety among the travellers who take the Munnar-Maravur and Munnar Devikulam routes, The animal once adored by the residents who lives near the tea plantations, are now scared of the encounters with the giant, which may come out of the blue.
Being a familiar face in the hill station, Padayappa had also become a famous tourist magnet, although the recent events have created a different image of the elephant as it attacked vehicles and shops in the last few days. Padayappa also attacked some humans, including seriously injuring a woman.
As per the statement received from Biju S, Munnar Range Officer, the increased level of testosterone is main trigger of aggression in the animal. He also said that this is a natural phenomenon the animal goes through.
He said, “A department veterinarian informed us that the musth will last for the next one month, after which its aggressive behaviour is expected to subside. Meanwhile, the Forest department is actively tracking Padayappa’s movements and keeping the public informed,”
As the elephant is wrecking fruit and vegetable shops in search of food, the department has made safety guidelines, asking people not to approach or stop their vehicles, when spotted Padayappa on the roads.
However, there is a different take on the situation by environmentalists. They say that, the behavioural changes in the tusker may be a result of environmental facts or even relocation attempts. “I suspect some groups might be trying to move Padayappa out of the hill station. Climate change and illegal roadside shops could also be influencing its behaviour,” says an environmentalist.
Once known as ‘Gentle Giant’, the tusker was named Padayappa after the popular Rajnikanth movie. It was always busy munching food received from roadside shops without creating any ruckus or damage. He was famous among the locals and tourists.