Coimbatore : Probably the biggest capture is what officials from the forest department are terming the 10-hour-long operation, which saw the capture of Vinayagan, a problem elephant who was roaming in the Thadagam Valley for a few years.
Coimbatore : Probably the biggest capture is what officials from the forest department are terming the 10-hour-long operation, which saw the capture of Vinayagan, a problem elephant who was roaming in the Thadagam Valley for a few years.
Not just the number of people involved or the audacity of the capturing process, but the mere size of the elephant that was captured today. A fully grown adult male elephant aged between 30 and 35, in its full musth flow. A 4.5 to five-ton massive elephant, seeing which even the Kumkis hesitated for a long while to get close.
It took more than the best efforts of two earth movers, two Kumkis (Wasim and Vijay) and a team of 50 ground staff including experienced mahouts, four veterinary officers, members from NGOs, Rapid Response Team, Anti-Poaching Watchers and vehicle drivers to successfully complete the tiring operation.
The ten-hour-long tussle between the elephant and team involved saw many interesting twists and turns including cutting of an important rope tied around the elephants’ neck, the charging of the elephant towards Kumkis and staff and the turning of the tusker, which consumed the majority of the time.
The elephant was initially darted with a combination of Xylazine and Ketamine around 5.30 a.m. near a brick kiln in Periyathadagam and ran after charging at the team. It later stood sedated near the foothills of the Ghats and was given a second shot of the same combination in a smaller quantity. Later, the animal was given a third shot after being loaded in the vehicle and was taken to Mudumalai in a truck after being radio-collared.
Though the capture did bring to memory the previous captures of a tusker from Vellalore and the infamous Madukkarai Maharaj, this was really a much tougher job considering the size of the animal.
The animal stood facing away from the truck and team had to bring together all expertise to try and turn it. It was made possible with the help of an earthmover, which pulled the animal towards the vehicle.
Interestingly, the loading process was made very simpler, thanks to the earth movers as the tusker moved swiftly into the truck, which is the toughest task in an elephant capture. As soon as it moved in, its legs were fastened within two wooden logs. Vijay did help in the process with a few punches from his tusks, but then, Vinayagan seemed to settle down finally giving up on his long battle with the scorching sun, the people involved and the sedatives that started kicking in.
He was immediately tied around the neck with a radio collar that can be monitored using a high-frequency transmitter and a GPS tracker. The elephant is to be released in Sand Road in Mudumalai, in a forest patch connecting the three States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.
The entire process aside, what happened at the end of the entire circus did move a few people. Vinayagan, who was moving around the Thadagam Valley like a king till today, departed with his trunk lifted to the air.
Though ironically the same people who had wanted him to be captured felt sorry for leaving him, Vinayagan seemed to miss the area, which was evident in the final lifting of its trunk, bidding farewell to the people of Thadagam.
The king has moved on to a new kingdom!
Not just the number of people involved or the audacity of the capturing process, but the mere size of the elephant that was captured today. A fully grown adult male elephant aged between 30 and 35, in its full musth flow. A 4.5 to five-ton massive elephant, seeing which even the Kumkis hesitated for a long while to get close.
It took more than the best efforts of two earth movers, two Kumkis (Wasim and Vijay) and a team of 50 ground staff including experienced mahouts, four veterinary officers, members from NGOs, Rapid Response Team, Anti-Poaching Watchers and vehicle drivers to successfully complete the tiring operation.
The ten-hour-long tussle between the elephant and team involved saw many interesting twists and turns including cutting of an important rope tied around the elephants’ neck, the charging of the elephant towards Kumkis and staff and the turning of the tusker, which consumed the majority of the time.
The elephant was initially darted with a combination of Xylazine and Ketamine around 5.30 a.m. near a brick kiln in Periyathadagam and ran after charging at the team. It later stood sedated near the foothills of the Ghats and was given a second shot of the same combination in a smaller quantity. Later, the animal was given a third shot after being loaded in the vehicle and was taken to Mudumalai in a truck after being radio-collared.
Though the capture did bring to memory the previous captures of a tusker from Vellalore and the infamous Madukkarai Maharaj, this was really a much tougher job considering the size of the animal.
The animal stood facing away from the truck and team had to bring together all expertise to try and turn it. It was made possible with the help of an earthmover, which pulled the animal towards the vehicle.
Interestingly, the loading process was made very simpler, thanks to the earth movers as the tusker moved swiftly into the truck, which is the toughest task in an elephant capture. As soon as it moved in, its legs were fastened within two wooden logs. Vijay did help in the process with a few punches from his tusks, but then, Vinayagan seemed to settle down finally giving up on his long battle with the scorching sun, the people involved and the sedatives that started kicking in.
He was immediately tied around the neck with a radio collar that can be monitored using a high-frequency transmitter and a GPS tracker. The elephant is to be released in Sand Road in Mudumalai, in a forest patch connecting the three States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.
The entire process aside, what happened at the end of the entire circus did move a few people. Vinayagan, who was moving around the Thadagam Valley like a king till today, departed with his trunk lifted to the air.
Though ironically the same people who had wanted him to be captured felt sorry for leaving him, Vinayagan seemed to miss the area, which was evident in the final lifting of its trunk, bidding farewell to the people of Thadagam.
The king has moved on to a new kingdom!