Lone gaur sends residents on a run

A young Indian Gaur that entered a residential colony in the town created panic among the residents who ran for safety on Monday.

The lone gaur entered into Thenkarai Mariamman Kovil Street from Kumbakarai forest range through Vadugapatti and Thamaraikulam this morning. First, local people saw the wild animal standing in a narrow passage in the house of lawyer Ilango.

Fear gripped the residents. But several people from nearby areas gathered there to see the wild animal. On seeing the crowd, the Indian Gaur started running on the street to find an escape route.

The entire area was full of panic-stricken people trying to escape from possible attack. Meanwhile, local people alerted the forest officials for quick action. But Periyakulam forest officials were reluctant to take action immediately as they did not get orders from their higher ups. After a brief run, the animal was relaxing again in a street corner. Capitalising on its calm mood, public and officials started photographing the animal using their mobile phones.

Later, a team of forest officials reached the spot and chalked out plans to provide a safe passage for the gaur to leave the town. To begin with, they advised all residents to stay in safe places. Already, residents had blocked the entrance of streets with barricades and vehicles to prevent the animal’s entry into their area. The police also erected wooden barricades to divert it through a single passage safely.

When they tried to chase, the gaur ran amuck on the street, jumped into the Varaha River, crossed it swiftly and ran into another crowded street on the north bank of the river. With no help, officials too were running behind the animal. At last, an 11-hour-long fear-gripped run-and-chase drama came to an end as the gaur entered into the forest area through the north bank without attacking any person or damaging any property in the town.

With no water and feed in the reserve forests, wild animals have been moving towards the plains in search of water and feed. But no wild animal had entered into thickly populated residential areas within the town limits till date. The lone animal might have lost its path and entered into the town, said forest officials.