The Forest and Wildlife Department has decided not to translocate to the Parambikulam forests a rogue elephant that had created panic across Wayanad and, at present, confined at a kraal at Muthanga.
Though the tusker was moved into a specially-designed ambulance with the assistance of two kumki elephants around 6.45 p.m. to be taken to the new habitat around 300 km away after administering tranquilizer shots and attaching a radio collar, the sanctuary officials cancelled the operation after Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) P. Marapandyan directed the officials to keep the animal in the kraal at Muthanga for the time being in the wake of public protest.
Mr. Marapandyan had on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to release the jumbo to Parambikulam forest area after a group of environmentalists had opposed the move to keep the jumbo at the kraal.
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The animal, aged nearly 27 years, was tranquilized and captured on November 21 as per the direction of Forest Minister K. Raju when it attacked a farmer at his field at Kallur a few months ago.
The pachyderm, known among villagers as ‘Bharatan SI’ and ‘Kallur Komban,’ was reported to be a regular crop raider and it had tried to attack many forest officials and villagers in the past.
The jumbo in mild sedation would now be retained in the kraal till further orders, Forest Department sources said.
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Public protest
Special Correspondent writes from Palakkad: Tribespeople residing inside the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve (PTR) bordering Pollachi region of Tamil Nadu on Sunday gheraoed the office of the deputy director of the reserve expressing anxiety over the move to translocate the elephant.
Almost all the families living within the reserve took part in the protest, which was inaugurated N. Babu, MLA.
Over 100 people from other parts of Nenmara constituency reached Parambikulam around noon extending solidarity with the agitating tribes.
Inaugurating the protest, Mr. Babu urged the Forest Department to immediately abandon the translocation initiative which invited even opposition from an expert committee that went through the whole issue.
Meanwhile, the issue has taken a new dimension with local communities at border check-post Govindapuram and adjacent Muthalamada joining the stir by organising road blocks in the busy Thrissur- Nenmara- Pollachi Highway.
Officials said the decision to relocate the elephant was taken overlooking a report submitted by a seven-member expert committee headed by Kerala Forest Research Institute former director P.S. Easa terming the move a ‘risky experiment.’
“The rogue elephant will definitely create trouble in the new place. Parambikulam is known for coexistence of tribal people and wild animals.
The elephant will destroy the existing balance,’’ said S. Natarajan, another tribal resident.