Fri Mar 07 09:19:39 UTC 2025: ## Kerala Forest Officials Build Waterhole to Prevent Human-Elephant Conflict
**Munnar, Kerala – March 7, 2025** – Forest officials in Kerala have creatively solved a potential human-wildlife conflict by constructing a waterhole for thirsty elephants and other animals. The initiative, undertaken by 18 officials from the Inchathotty Forest Station near Kothamangalam, addresses the issue of elephants venturing near human settlements in search of water.
The project, funded by the officials’ own contributions totaling ₹12,000, involved digging an eight-meter-long, six-meter-wide, one-meter-deep tank capable of holding 50,000 liters of water. The waterhole, located near a solar-powered fence designed to keep elephants out of farms and villages, is now used by elephants, sambar deer, wild boar, nilgai, smaller animals, and even pythons.
The need for the waterhole arose after a herd of elephants, including a young calf, repeatedly tried to cross the fence to reach the Periyar River. Their persistent attempts, coupled with the recent memory of a fatal elephant encounter in the area, caused concern among local residents.
Deputy range officer G.G. Santosh Kumar explained that the rocky terrain makes water scarce during peak summer, forcing animals to seek water near human settlements. The new waterhole, easily refilled weekly using a tanker truck, provides a safe alternative, easing both animal and human anxieties. Officials lined the tank with silpaulin and added natural debris to make it less suspicious to the animals. Locals reportedly fully supported the project.
The success of the initiative underscores the effectiveness of collaborative and creative solutions in mitigating human-wildlife conflict. Officials expressed their satisfaction with the waterhole’s usage and intend to maintain it as long as necessary.
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