Padayappa (elephant)

Padayappa also known as Munnar Padayappa is a wild elephant in Munnar in the Indian state of Kerala, known for its frequent appearances in residential areas.[1][2] Padayappa, who occasionally roams on populated areas and creates traffic blocks on highways, does not harass or become aggressive.[3][4] The elephant's frequent visit to populated areas and cities as opposed to usual wild elephants and its calm nature caused it to attract wider media attention.[5] Padayappa can be easily spotted because of his limp due to an injury on his hind leg and his unusually long tusks. It is named after the character in the 1999 Tamil movie Padayappa.[6][7] The elephant is identified by its name Padayappa even in the forest department circles.[8] Padayappa came to the media's notice in 2015, when the elephant discovered a sackful of carrots that the shopkeepers had hidden from it by the riverside. Only after eating all the carrots did it head into the forests without attacking anyone.[9][10] On 5 April 2022, Padayappa jumped in front of a KSRTC bus coming to Munnar. The driver stopped the bus and the elephant checked the bus with trunk. Meanwhile, a scratch fell on the glass of the bus. The driver sped off the vehicle when Padayappa could moved back a little.[11]

Padayappa
Padayappa in a tea plantation
SpeciesElephas maximus (Asian elephant)
SexMale
Bornunknown
Nation fromIndia
Known forFrequent appearances in residential areas
Named afterPadayappa movie

See also

References
  1. "Kerala: Wild elephant 'Padayappa' terrorizes Munnar residents yet again", "THE TIMES OF INDIA", 06 April 2022
  2. "Idukki wants wild elephants relocated: Here's why that's unfair to Padayappa and co", "The News Minute", 04 February 2019
  3. "Munnar’s infamous tusker strikes again; breaks into his favourite shop and devours fruits worth Rs 40,000", "CNBC TV18", 07 April 2022
  4. "Meet Padayappa, Munnar's Jumbo Resident Who Has Proven That Humans & Animals Can Exist In Peace", "India Times", 08 June 2020
  5. "When ‘Padayappa’ the wild elephant disrupted a football match in Munnar", "The Indian Express", 15 February 2018
  6. "Padayappa roams streets of Munnar during lockdown", "The News Minute", 16 April 2020
  7. "100 elephants killed in 2 years across south", "Times of India", 13 August 2015
  8. "Where wild elephants have pet names", "The Hindu", 01 November 2016
  9. "The curious case of elephant Padayappa", "The Hindu", 11 January 2015
  10. "Angered and hurt, Padayappa leaves Munnar", "The Hindu", 25 June 2019
  11. "Wild elephant 'Padayappa' in front of KSRTC bus, driver quickly turns and escapes, "Kerala Kaumudi", 05 April 2022
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