Rogue elephant Arikomban darted with tranquillisers in Kerala’s Idukki

Once sedated, Arikomban (rice tusker) a radio collar would be fixed on it to track its movement. The pachyderm would be taken out of Chinnakanal and relocated to another forest region, as per the directive of the Kerala High Court. As part of the mission, the forest department has also mobilized four kumki elephants, which would herd the captured Arikomban to a truck with special fencing.

Named Arikomban due to its habit of raiding shops for rice and other grains in the villages of Chinnakanal and Santhanpara in Idukki, on Friday, the elephant was spotted on a tough, hilly terrain along with other elephants. After bursting crackers, officials made Arikomban move into an open area, where they could dart the elephant.

As part of the capturing exercise, the forest department, in association with the Idukki district administration, conducted a mock drill on Thursday. A team of 150 officials, drawn from various departments, and four kumki elephants were part of the exercise. Prohibitory orders were clamped in selected wards of the Chinnakanal and Santhanpara panchayats.

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 approached the high court and obtained an interim stay.

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 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. 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 protests from the people.