The task force spotted the elephant Arikomban near Suryanelli (File)
Idukki, Kerala:
A rogue elephant, infamous for stealing rice and damaging human settlements in Chinnakanal and Santhanpara areas of this hill district, was put to rest on Saturday after months of uncertainty and confusion.
Mission Arikomban, named after the elephant, started at 4 am on Saturday and went on till 6 pm. The elephant was being taken to the Periyar Tiger Reserve and would be released 20 km deep inside the forest.
State Forest Minister AK Saseendran said the radio collar attached to the elephant would alert the authorities about its movement and allow them to take necessary precautions if it re-enters human habitation.
However, he did not reveal the exact location where the elephant would be released. The High Court had earlier directed the Kerala Forest Department not to disclose the location.
“Forest officials have made all necessary arrangements (to shift the elephant),” the minister told PTI.
Saseendran said the government had proposed various locations before the High Court and this particular reserve was selected as its climatic conditions are similar to those of Chinnakkanal.
The Periyar Tiger Reserve, situated in the southern region of the Western Ghats, is spread over an area of 777 sq km and is home to a spectacular collection of different species of flora and fauna.
Earlier, the task force had a tough day braving heavy rain and fog as they tried to tranquilize the elephant and transfer it to a truck with the help of four kumki elephants. The Kumki elephants, trained to catch and hold wild elephants, succeeded in pushing the red elephant into the truck despite facing great resistance.
The task force spotted the elephant Arikomban near Suryanelli in the morning and a tranquilizing team led by Dr Arun Zakaria cordoned off the area.
Fortunately for the task force team, the elephant did not go deep inside the forest, and the first tranquilizer shot was given at 11.55 am followed by the first booster at 12.40 pm. Five more boosters were later delivered.
However, the task force members could not cover the eyes of the wild elephant with black cloth to keep it calm. He used the arm of an earthmover to reach the top of the animal in the truck to fix the GPS-enabled radio collar, which was insisted upon by the Kerala High Court.
Mission Arikomban had run into several controversies, with animal rights activists protesting the forest department’s move to capture and become kumki elephants at the Kodanad Elephant Center in Ernakulam district.
He appealed to the High Court, which after hearing the petition stayed the action of the department.
The court appointed an expert committee to study the issue. The panel suggested that the elephant be shifted to a forested area where there is no chance of conflict with humans.
The committee had suggested shifting the elephant to Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. Soon, protests broke out in the Parambikulam area, with residents fiercely opposing the move. The High Court then asked the Kerala government to release it at a place of their choice and asked them to keep the location a secret.
The local people of Chinnakanal and Santhanpara rose up against this rogue elephant and demanded its relocation from their area. Nestled between the Anayirangal Dam on one side and several tribal settlements on the other, this place has many more elephants that were denied their passage.
Although one elephant is now being removed from the area, experts say the issue is far from over.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)