Killer jumbo captured, released into forest

COIMBATORE: The 18-year-old rogue elephant that rampaged through the outskirts of the city early on Friday killing four people, injuring an equal number and spreading terror was released into the reserve forest at Anaikundhi near Varagaliyar elephant camp the same night. It had been captured by the forest department in a nine-hour operation. The forest department has deployed more than 20 anti-poaching watchers (APWs) led by a forest ranger at the Anaikundhi area to monitor the tusker.

Initially the department planned to keep the animal in a krawl (a wooden enclosure where captured wild elephants are confined for training) in the Varagaliyar elephant camp. However, after discussions the forest department officials in Chennai discussed with the forest department minister Dindigul C Srinivasan and changed their decisions. They decided to release the animal into the reserve forest side.

The captured male elephant was transported to Varagaliyar elephant camp from Vellalapalayam near Vellalore in Coimbatore and later the elephant was taken five km away in a truck where it was released at around 11.30 pm on Friday.

In June 22, 2016, a wild elephant from Madukkarai was captured and was kept inside the krawl at Varagaliyar where the elephant died after hitting its head in the wooden krawl. Forest department sources said that after the death of Madukkarai Maharaj, the officials decided to release the captured elephant into the reserve forest.

V Ganeshan, Field Director of Anaimalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) told media persons that the department used to provide training to the captured elephant which is below 10 years old. But the captured elephant aged about more than 16-20 year-old and it would very difficult to train the animal. It would not obey the instructions given by mahouts.

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