"KALLANA"-THE DWARF ELEPHANT

It has been widely reported in the Malayalam Media that between Peppara in Agastya wildlife Forest and Paruthipally forest area a dwarf elephant called "Kallana" was found by a group of photographers headed by one Mr.Sali who is reported to have videographed it on the 18th of January 2013.This place is stated to be an area in which Elephants always used to roam about. Since this particular dwarf elephant less than 5 feet in height was roaming alone away from the group of Elephants,it is said they were able to confirm that it was a Kallana. The group of men reported the matter to the Forest Department of Kerala State. The conservator of the forest shri Shri Gopinath reported that a group of Forest officials consisting of the scientists of Peechi forest research centre, Aveterenary Doctor&a warden of the wild life forest were deputed to ivesti- gate the matter with a view to confirming that it was,in fact,a Kallana However,The Principal Conservator of Forest Shri RajaRaja Varma ,expressed his doubt about the identity of the Kallana as it had been reported earlier also about seeing Kallana but was not confirmed beyond doubt. Hearing the news about tracing a Kallana,The Forest Minister of Kerala shri. Ganesh Kumar has ordered forming a committee to further investigate to estab- lish the real identity of the Kallana The matter is being looked into by this committee as announced by the office of the Minister. Now what is this new find Kallana?There are many legends&rumours about this surprise find. There was,it is said,a shrine of Agastya at Agastyakoodam in the southern Tip of western Ghats where folklore used to say they had frequently found a kind of Dwarf Elephants known As " kallana" or a dwarf stone elephant.It was considered by many as a A mythical creature of Dwarf Elephant never more than 5 feet TallThe scientists preferred to conclude it as a mythical Imagination to reality. The locals ,however,considered it as a real creature like an elephant which had extraordinary Abilityntoncling ton rocks & roam through rains like a dragonfly. A recent expedition by Dr.Angstrom H.Troubador, an expert Biologyst maintained With conclusive Genetic evidence thatb what he found was for real.the creatures are real Dwarf Elephants as maintained by the locals.he called the creatures as distinct Species Of Dwarf Elephants. The western Ghats ranges are widely considered& confirmed as valuable areas of Unparelleled biological diversity & considered as Homes to many endangered species found no where else in The World. Rare medical herbs& special quality Tea are being cultivated here a valuable resources Represented by The Shrine to Agastya a divinity who was Stated to have been gifted with Medicinal System by Lord Muruga the son of Shiva. There ar many more similar stories spread which is free for those who believe in God & Devine Features or reject as a imagination of myth. The mythological storing Gajendra Moksham is relevant in this context! In any case the recent find of Dwarf Elephant" Kallana" is worth of further Investigation to prove something behind the mystery. let us await theresults of the investigation to prove the existence of such a species First before arriving at a final conclusion SreedharanMundanat 2nd February 2013 15-40 Hrs( IST) .