The existence of Kallana or the pygmy elephant have been a hot topic of debate for cryptozoologists and wildlife enthusiasts in Kerala and outside. The almost mythical Kallana has been spotted again in Peppara forest region by a photographer and a tribesman.On March 17 Pathanamthitta based photographer Ajantha Benny and Mallan, a member of Kani tribe spotted the animal as it came down near a water body in Marakappara.Though the existanceof mini pachyderms are part of the ’kani’ tribal lore, the world got a sneak peek into the secret life of the mini pachyderms after Saly Paode, a wildlife photographer had a shot at one of them with his camera in January 2005.The pygmy elephants are known as ’kallana’ and ’thumbiana’ in the language of the ’Kani’ tribe. The ’Kallana’ photographed by Benny is only five feet tall and the tail is lengthier than the common Asian elephant. Theanimal seem to be aged with its ribs visible.Saly says in his website that the Kallana looks like miniature Indian elephant in all respects but, do not grow above about 5 feet in height. The front leg foot print is just large enough to accommodate a palm of human hand while the hind foot prints are smaller. After 2005 sighting the forest department had launched a hunt to locate the ’Pygmy’ elephant but the project was not successfull. Pygmy Elephants are cryptids, reported to be living in both Africa and Asia. The African Pygmy Elephant is currently considered to considered to consist of small African Forest Elephants .The Borneo Elephant or Borneo Pygmy Elephant is a subspecies of the Asian Elephant and found in north Borneo.
