Three trained Kumki elephants brought from Kozhikamudhi in Anaimalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), Top Slip, near Pollachi, under the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, began its ?operation' of driving into the forest a herd of wild elephants at Nambalam in the Pudussery-Malampuzha-Marutharode panchayat areas of the district on Wednesday.
The Kumki elephants, accompanied by 27 officers of the Kerala and Tamil Nadu Forest Departments reached the area and started work at the Elamparakkad-Akkamkunnam. The herd had been destroying crops for some time now.
Kumki elephants were brought last year for the purpose, Palakkad Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) P. Mani said.
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The Kumki elephants, Nanjan, 48, Kalim, 46, and Bharani, 28, are accompanied by N.S. Manoharan, Chief Veterinary Officer of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and Sunil Kumar, Senior Veterinary Officer of the Kerala Forest Department.
As many as 14 trained tribespeople, experts in such operations, five officers of the Kerala Forest Department and six mahouts of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department are also taking part in the drive.
During the first day's operation, a wild tusker was driven back into the forest and the team returned to the base camp at Nambalam, Mr. Mani said.
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A meeting of various departments, called by District Collector K.V. Mohan Kumar here on Friday last, had decided to enlist the services of Kumki elephants.
The farmers in the affected areas had been seeking action. More than 1,500 families in the panchayats of Malampuzha, Marutharode and Pudussery, lying close to the forest areas, live in constant fear of attack from wild elephants.