Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Inder Dhamija from Chennai will be visiting Coimbatore on Tuesday to inquire into the circumstances that led to the death of a 20-year-old male elephant in the small hours of Sunday after it was tranquillised for radio-collaring it.
Following frequent incidents of man-animal conflict and reports of elephants indulging in raids, causing damage to crops and loss of human lives, the Forest Department, with the help of the World Wildlife Fund, embarked on radio-collaring two problematic elephants. This was with a view to monitoring the movement of the elephant/herd.
Female radio-collared
On Thursday, the officials successfully radio-collared a female elephant in the Booluvampatti range and its movements are being monitored.
Efforts began for radio-collaring the second elephant and searches for it began in the Periyanaickenpalayam range.
Late on Saturday night, a tusker was spotted near a brick kiln and the authorities darted the animal. The animal which ran under the cover of darkness was found lying dead 350 to 400 metres away from the kiln.
Mr. Dhamija is expected to visit the place where the darting and the death of the animal took place. He would personally take stock of the terrain and ascertain the circumstances and causes that led to the death. He would also interact with forest personnel, experts and veterinarians and elephant trackers involved in the darting operation to get a first-hand account.
CCF inquiry
Sources said that the operation to radio-collar the second elephant would remain suspended until the report of the CCF inquiry is submitted to the Forest Department.
