Narrow escape: Kerala family dodges charging elephant in Wayanad's forest

KOZHIKODE: A three-member family had a narrow escape from a wild elephant near Appappara, close to Thirunelly in Kerala's Wayanad district.

The family was traveling on a bike along the Thirunelly-Kattikulam road, which cuts through a forest, when they suddenly found themselves face-to-face with a tusker just after negotiating a curve.

Thanks to the quick thinking of the biker, who paused for a moment before revving the engine and moving forward, the family, including a child, managed to outrun the charging elephant.

The dramatic incident, captured by a group traveling in a car, quickly went viral.

Tribal Development Minister O.R. Kelu has since advised people to avoid traveling through forest areas at night due to the increasing number of wildlife encounters in these regions.