Coimbatore: Elephant Makhna dies as both state forest department abandoned it
Coimbatore:
Makhna Elephant which suffered a grievous injury due to Avuttukkai country bomb died as Tamilnadu and Kerala State forest departments abandoned it. Makna elephant known as 'Bulldozer' is said to have died unable to move in Marappalam near Attappadi Solaiyur Road this morning.
On August 15th, a Makna elephant injured on the jaw by 'Avuttukkai' was found by the forest department in the Marudhamalai area of Coimbatore. Though the forest department provided treatment, the elephant went into Kerala on August 17 via Anaikatti.
The elephant was treated on behalf of the forest department in the Mannarkkad area. But the elephant was released back into the wild by doctors on the pretence that it would not survive for a long time and its health condition was deteriorating. Forest officials kept the Makna elephant under intensive surveillance.
On the 27th of last month, the forest department found that the elephant was roaming in the Devarayapuram area on the Boluvampatti border adjacent to the Kerala-Tamil Nadu forest department. As the elephant was continuously monitored, it was found to be damaging houses in villages. Though food was provided by the forest department within the forest, the elephant could not consume due to the injury in its mouth.
It followed its usual corridor to Kerala but looked very unhealthy and moved slowly. The doctors couldn't provide any further treatment as the tongue was completely cut-off.
People in villages were warned by the forest department to be careful as the elephant was damaging crops. Later the elephant was found in Kanuvai on September 3 and then came to the Anaikatti Chinna Jambukandi area at 12:30 last night.
As the elephant entered RAF camp near Mangarai the elephant is said to have been chased away with firecrackers and by making noise to drive it into the Kerala forest. Wildlife activists accused the Coimbatore Forest Department of trying to drive the elephant into the neighboring state without saving it.
In a message issued by the forest department on the 6th, it was stated that the Makna elephant is currently under continuous surveillance by the Coimbatore forest department in the Duwaipathi tribal village.
But this elephant died near Marappalam in Attappady, Solaiyur road today. A message was also sent to the Kerala Forest Department as it used the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border as its route. The death of the elephant has caused a stir among animal activists making them wonder how many more lives was going to be lost due to 'Avuttukai' in the future.