Operation to capture Arikomban on, but Kerala rogue elephant remains elusive
The forest department has made all arrangements to tranquilise the wild tusker Arikomban, which would be radio-collared and relocated to another forest tract as per the directive of the Kerala High Court.
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The state government moved the Supreme Court against the high court’s direction to relocate Arikomban (File) The Kerala Forest Department’s mission to capture the wild elephant Arikomban, which has been terrorising high-range villages in the Idukki district for the last five years, began early on Friday but the rogue elephant remained elusive. The elephant was given the name Arikomban (literally rice tusker) due to its habit of raiding shops for rice and other grains in the villages of Chinnakanal and Santhanpara.
The forest department has made all arrangements to tranquilise the elephant, which would be radio-collared and relocated to another forest tract as per the directive of the Kerala High Court. The mission began at 4.30 am at Chinnakanal where the rapid response team of the forest department spotted the elephant on Thursday. Although the tracking teams found a herd of elephants in the forest, they could not confirm the presence of Arikomban in it.
Kottayam DFO N Rajesh said the operation to capture the tusker would continue on Saturday if Friday’s efforts proved unsuccessful. As part of the capturing exercise, the forest department, in association with the Idukki district administration, conducted a mock drill on Thursday. Prohibitory orders were clamped in selected wards in the panchayats of Chinnakkanal and Santhanpara. A team of 150 officials, drawn from various departments including forest, and four kumki elephants are part of the exercise.
On March 25, the forest department mobilised men and kumki elephants to capture Arikomban and train the tusker into another kumki as per the prevailing tradition in the department. However, two animal rights organisations rushed to the high court and obtained an interim stay on the forest department’s plan.
Later, the high court formed a five-member committee to examine the issue and report whether Arikomban should be captured and converted into a kumki. The committee recommended that the elephant be captured, radio-collared and relocated to the Parambikulam tiger reserve. The court decision sparked protests at villages in Parambikulam which have already been reeling under elephant menace. Residents of Parambikulam even observed a hartal, supported by all political parties, in protest against the recommendation to bring the tusker to their backyard.
The state government moved the Supreme Court against the high court’s direction to relocate Arikomban. On April 18, the apex court refused to interfere in the high court’s directive on the ground that an expert committee had made the recommendation for relocation. On April 20, the high court directed the state government to suggest alternative locations for relocating the tusker. It asked the forest department to submit the suggested locations in a sealed cover, considering the protest from the people.
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