Two kumki (tamed/trained) elephants of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) reached the Pooluvampatti range office of the Forest Department at Irutupallam for deployment from Monday to combat the man-animal conflict situations.
It may be noted that straying of wild elephants into human habitations in Thondamuthur, Thaliyur and Alandurai areas in the past had led to unrest among the public. The wild elephants that went in search of food and water used to destroy crops. The herd recently killed a farmer, triggering road blockade.
Following the incidents, District Forest Officer V. Thirunavukkarasu sought the services of kumki elephants from the Top Slip elephant camp. On directions from Field Director H. Basuvaraju and Deputy Director A. Thiagrajan, Range Officer of Top Slip S. Thangaraj Paneerselvam deputed two kumki elephants Nanjan and Kapil Dev. The kumkis left the Kozhikamudhi elephant camp of the ATR along with four mahouts and 11 tribal people to maintain the kumkis, and reached the Iruttupallam operation base.
Mr.Thirunavukkarasu said that the kumkis would be at the temporary camp site preparing for the exercise to be carried out over the next 10 to 20 days. First, the elephant trackers would venture into the forests to ascertain the location and movement of the wild elephants. Once the trackers confirmed the location, the kumkis would get down working to send the wild elephants deep into the forests.
The forest officials said that the kumki operation would be a trial for the Forest Department, as it was planning to have a permanent kumki camp at the Pooluvampatti range office at Iruttupallam. A proposal to this effect was under active consideration of the government at the highest level.
