Forest Dept tranquilises wild tusker in Thadagam Valley

Wild elephant Vinayagan which was tranquillised by the Forest Department for capture and translocation from Periyathadagam in Coimbatore.

The Forest Department on Tuesday morning tranquillised Vinayagan, the wild elephant which has been frequently entering human habitations in Thadagam valley in Coimbatore.

The elephant, aged between 30 and 34, will be translocated to forests in the tri-junction of Mudumalai, Bandipur and Wayanad wildlife sanctuaries later today.

The first dart was shot at the elephant around 6 a.m. by a team of the Forest Department in the forest fringes at Periyathadagam.

Four kumkis, earthmovers and a special truck have been brought to the place for shifting the wild elephant. The elephant has been tied up to a tree using a big rope to prevent it from moving into the wild.

“The elephant will be radio collared before being released in the wild. The animal needs to be monitored further as it is habituated to eating crops and other soft foods in the villages,” said Deepak Sreevastava, Assistant Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.

The elephant will be administered a second mild dose of tranquilliser before loading it on to the truck. Veterinary surgeons of the Department — N. S. Manoharan and K. Ashokan are involved in tranquillising the animal. Officials from Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Anamalai Tiger Reserve have also come to the place to assist and guide the operations.

Farmers have been demanding the capture of Vinayagan and another wild elephant named Chinna Thambi after incidents of crop raiding by the two pachyderms.

Mr. Sreevastava said that the Department will try to capture and translocate Chinna Thambi in the coming days.