Two anti-poaching watchers, deployed by the Department of Forests from among tribal people and those living near forests, sustained injuries when they were attacked by wild animals in separate incidents in the district on Saturday.
P. Maniakkaran (28) was attacked by an elephant while Ganesan (42) sustained injuries after being knocked down by a bison.
Both of them were admitted to Taluk Government Hospital in Udumalpet.
ADVERTISEMENT
P. Mariappan, Forest Ranger (Amaravathy range), said Ganesan was attacked by a bison while he was doing routine rounds to check any poaching inside the Annamalai Tiger Reserve Area.
He sustained minor injuries caused by the horns of the animal, the Ranger added.
In the case of Maniakkaran, a tribal person from Kodanthur hamlet, the injury was a bit more serious as he was diagnosed with a small fracture on his jaw.
ADVERTISEMENT
“He fell down with his face hitting the ground after the trunk of a wild elephant standing near Kattalai Mariamman temple on Kodanthur-Chinnar road hit him while it was swung,” Forest Ranger (Udumalpet) Thangaraj Paneerselvam told The Hindu.
Forest Officials added that it was lonely tusker and seemed to have migrated from Kerala side. It may have been going to River Chinnar to drink water.