Coimbatore: With miscreants spreading rumours regarding the health of elephant Chinnathambi, the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) officials have put an end to the hoax messages by releasing images of the elephant in healthy condition.
Coimbatore: With miscreants spreading rumours regarding the health of elephant Chinnathambi, the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) officials have put an end to the hoax messages by releasing images of the elephant in healthy condition.
A day before his 100th day inside the Kraal, a message did the rounds on social media on Saturday, claiming that the health of Chinnathambi had deteriorated while being trained at the Varagaliyar elephant training camp, in Ulandhy Range of ATR. The message also claimed that the reason for the ill health of the elephant was poor treatment by forest officials.
While the claims were immediately rejected by officials from ATR, they have released a statement along with the pictures of Chinnathambi in healthy condition. The pictures released by the department show officials checking the animal and a mahout sitting on top of the animal.
In the statement, A.S. Marimuthu, Deputy Field Director of ATR and District Forest Officer of Pollachi has said that the animal was being regularly monitored by former wildlife veterinary officer Dr. N.S. Manohar at Varagaliyar.
“Dr. Manohar had checked on Chinnathambi’s condition in the Kraal during the months of February, March and April and has certified that its health status is satisfactory. In addition, officials including ATR Field Director V. Ganesan, Deputy Director A.S. Marimuthu, Ulandhy Range Officer Navin Kumar and mahouts keep checking the animal’s health status regularly and reports are being sent to higher officials,” the statement read.
Marimuthu informed that proper care is given to Chinnathambi by the mahouts and food items are provided according to the guidance of veterinarian Dr. Manohar. “The elephant has started responding to the commands of the mahouts and is being trained like any proper camp elephant at Varagaliyar,” Marimuthu informed.
He had requested people to not spread hoax messages on social media without confirming with the officials.
Earlier, officials did not allow outsiders in the training area claiming that Chinnathambi was going through an important and final phase of training adding that visits by outsiders could disturb the training process. In the meantime, Chinnathambi’s mahout has been able to mount on the animal’s back, which is a sign of trust between the elephant and his mahout.
A day before his 100th day inside the Kraal, a message did the rounds on social media on Saturday, claiming that the health of Chinnathambi had deteriorated while being trained at the Varagaliyar elephant training camp, in Ulandhy Range of ATR. The message also claimed that the reason for the ill health of the elephant was poor treatment by forest officials.
While the claims were immediately rejected by officials from ATR, they have released a statement along with the pictures of Chinnathambi in healthy condition. The pictures released by the department show officials checking the animal and a mahout sitting on top of the animal.
In the statement, A.S. Marimuthu, Deputy Field Director of ATR and District Forest Officer of Pollachi has said that the animal was being regularly monitored by former wildlife veterinary officer Dr. N.S. Manohar at Varagaliyar.
“Dr. Manohar had checked on Chinnathambi’s condition in the Kraal during the months of February, March and April and has certified that its health status is satisfactory. In addition, officials including ATR Field Director V. Ganesan, Deputy Director A.S. Marimuthu, Ulandhy Range Officer Navin Kumar and mahouts keep checking the animal’s health status regularly and reports are being sent to higher officials,” the statement read.
Marimuthu informed that proper care is given to Chinnathambi by the mahouts and food items are provided according to the guidance of veterinarian Dr. Manohar. “The elephant has started responding to the commands of the mahouts and is being trained like any proper camp elephant at Varagaliyar,” Marimuthu informed.
He had requested people to not spread hoax messages on social media without confirming with the officials.
Earlier, officials did not allow outsiders in the training area claiming that Chinnathambi was going through an important and final phase of training adding that visits by outsiders could disturb the training process. In the meantime, Chinnathambi’s mahout has been able to mount on the animal’s back, which is a sign of trust between the elephant and his mahout.