Coimbatore: A bleak future could await the famous tusker Chinnathambi that was translocated from Thadagam to Varagaliyaru, with the elephant venturing again out of the reserve, a day ago near Angalakurichi in Pollachi and refused to move back into the forest. Officials opine that this could result in its captivity.
With the animal moving once again deep into human settlements, experts feel that the forest department could be forced to capture the tusker again and take it into captivity.
Coimbatore: A bleak future could await the famous tusker Chinnathambi that was translocated from Thadagam to Varagaliyaru, with the elephant venturing again out of the reserve, a day ago near Angalakurichi in Pollachi and refused to move back into the forest. Officials opine that this could result in its captivity.
Though no official word is out regarding the capture of the tusker, senior officials from the forest department claimed that a concrete decision should be taken to keep the situation under control.
“You cannot expect the department to keep running after the animal all the time. This needs to end somewhere, because it is dangerous for both the animal and the people. We are answerable if any mishap happens since the animal is walking too close to humans,” said the official.
If the situation persists, the animal could be captured and put inside a Kraal at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. “We have given the animal an opportunity and tried what we can to keep him safe inside the Reserve. Though it is very premature to conclude that our attempt was futile because of the behaviour of the animal, it is evident that the animal is a habitual crop raider,” added the official.
Chinnathambi entered human settlements near Angalakurichi and moved towards Udumalpet. He refused to move away from the farmlands despite best efforts from the forest department.
Commenting on the incident, Ajay Desai, member of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group and consultant for Worldwide Fund for Nature opined that the forest department could be forced to take the animal into captivity and put it inside a kraal as its behaviour does not seem to change.
“The animal had a chance of better survival inside the Reserve, which has a larger forest track, in the hope that he would not come out. But the situation has turned otherwise. He is habitually walking into towns and the mere size of the animal becomes a threat in such a situation. In such cases, you can only try and chase it back inside the forest by methods of aversion. If he keeps coming out, it could result in its capture,” explained Ajay Desai to Simplicity.
Claiming that such cases have happened in the past where translocated animals have entered similar human settlements in their new territories, Ajay Desai said that it is natural for habitual crop raiders to try and follow the same pattern wherever they are.
According to sources, elephant Vinayakan who was translocated from Thadagam to Mudumalai had attempted to come out of the Reserve. However, it was prevented from venturing out and had started feed from the forest, whereas, Chinnathambi, a lighter bull prefers crop over forest fodder.
Meanwhile, activists have condemned the forest officials in Udumalpet for using fire torches to chase Chinnathambi, as it would make the animal aggressive.
Coimbatore: A bleak future could await the famous tusker Chinnathambi that was translocated from Thadagam to Varagaliyaru, with the elephant venturing again out of the reserve, a day ago near Angalakurichi in Pollachi and refused to move back into the forest. Officials opine that this could result in its captivity.
Though no official word is out regarding the capture of the tusker, senior officials from the forest department claimed that a concrete decision should be taken to keep the situation under control.
“You cannot expect the department to keep running after the animal all the time. This needs to end somewhere, because it is dangerous for both the animal and the people. We are answerable if any mishap happens since the animal is walking too close to humans,” said the official.
If the situation persists, the animal could be captured and put inside a Kraal at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. “We have given the animal an opportunity and tried what we can to keep him safe inside the Reserve. Though it is very premature to conclude that our attempt was futile because of the behaviour of the animal, it is evident that the animal is a habitual crop raider,” added the official.
Chinnathambi entered human settlements near Angalakurichi and moved towards Udumalpet. He refused to move away from the farmlands despite best efforts from the forest department.
Commenting on the incident, Ajay Desai, member of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group and consultant for Worldwide Fund for Nature opined that the forest department could be forced to take the animal into captivity and put it inside a kraal as its behaviour does not seem to change.
“The animal had a chance of better survival inside the Reserve, which has a larger forest track, in the hope that he would not come out. But the situation has turned otherwise. He is habitually walking into towns and the mere size of the animal becomes a threat in such a situation. In such cases, you can only try and chase it back inside the forest by methods of aversion. If he keeps coming out, it could result in its capture,” explained Ajay Desai to Simplicity.
Claiming that such cases have happened in the past where translocated animals have entered similar human settlements in their new territories, Ajay Desai said that it is natural for habitual crop raiders to try and follow the same pattern wherever they are.
According to sources, elephant Vinayakan who was translocated from Thadagam to Mudumalai had attempted to come out of the Reserve. However, it was prevented from venturing out and had started feed from the forest, whereas, Chinnathambi, a lighter bull prefers crop over forest fodder.
Meanwhile, activists have condemned the forest officials in Udumalpet for using fire torches to chase Chinnathambi, as it would make the animal aggressive.