Wild elephants attack kumki at camp in Coimbatore

An attack by wild elephants injured a Forest Department elephant at Kozhi Kamudhi treatment camp at Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) where the annual rejuvenation camp of the forest department is underway. This has given rise to worries over the security at the elephant camp.

However, official confirmation of the incident could not be obtained as repeated phone calls to the ATR officials went unanswered.

According to sources, a couple of wild elephants entered the camp during the early hours of Thursday and attacked Mariappan, a 25-year-old elephant, which was earlier at the Samayapuram Mariamman Temple and subsequently handed over to the Forest Department after it became uncontrollable.

A veterinary team of the department has since given medical attention to the elephant. The injuries were said to be minimal. Following this, the ATR has constituted a five-member team to undertake night patrols in the area.

The wild elephants were spotted in the three settlements of Kozhi Kamudhi, Erumaiparai and Koomatti which are adjacent to the elephant camp. Since the area was near the elephant corridor, it witnessed frequent movement of elephants.

A forest ranger said that the special food being given at the camp might have attracted the wild elephants.