Rohini, a 23-year-old captive elephant handed over by its owner to the Forest Department in Virudhunagar district following an order from the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, was attached to the elephant camp of Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) on Friday.
The elephant which is currently quarantined at a facility of the Forest Department at Anamalai will be shifted to the Kozhikamuthy elephant camp at Top Slip after a round of medical examinations.
According to the Forest Department, a native of Rajapalayam, had purchased the elephant in 2001 to be offered to a temple.
However, the man kept the elephant in his custody till 2003 and sold it to another person.
The second owner approached the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in November this year seeking permission to keep the elephant with him.
However, the court ordered the owner to hand it over to the Forest Department and attach the animal to any of its elephant camps. The owner handed over the elephant to the Rajapalayam Forest Range Office and the Forest Department decided to attach the animal to Kozhikamuthy elephant camp.
Officials of the Srivilliputhur Wildlife Sanctuary on Friday took Rohini to Anamalai and handed over it to officials of ATR.
“The elephant will undergo various medical examinations before being taken to Kozhikamuthy elephant camp. Samples of dung, urine and blood of the elephant will be tested to check presence of diseases and pathogens as a precautionary measure,” said N. Naveen Kumar, Forest Range Officer of Ulandi Forest Range of ATR.
At present, there are six kumkis and 10 female captive elephants at Kozhikamuthy elephant camp.
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