An elephant calf — captured from Athimathaiyanur near Karamadai in Coimbatore on April 16 and released into the forest at Topslip — has been lodged in a kraal (wooden enclosure) at the Varagaliar camp.
Senior officials with the Forest Department said the elephant would be kept in the kraal for at least 10 days before a decision is taken whether or not to train it as a kumki. “The calf will remain in the kraal as it has returned from the wild. The elephant is currently being treated for wounds in its legs caused by tying ropes while capturing it. Treatment for the inflammation in its mouth is also being continued,” said a senior official. Topslip officials are of the opinion that the department has enough kumkis in Coimbatore. The Chinnar and Varagliyar camps attached to the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, have 22 kumkis, while the camp at Chadivayal has two.
The elephant calf was captured from the forest staff quarters near the Mangarai Reserve Forests Rest House on March 14 after it repeatedly strayed into residential areas at Mangarai, Thadagamn and Kanuvai. It had a swelling in the mouth and was treated at the Chadivayal camp for one month.
