Relocated Kerala's 'Arikomban' unleash ruckus in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: 'Arikomban', the rogue elephant relocated by the Kerala administration from Chinnakanal in the Idukki district to the Mangaladevi forests in Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR), has entered human habitations in Tamil Nadu.

The elephant, relocated around 110 km away, is creating scare among people, IANS reported.

It was a week ago, on April 29, Arikomban was relocated after it killed around six people and destroyed more than 300 houses in the Chinnakanal area.

A Kerala forest department team captured the elephant after tranquilising it. The department had attached a radio collar to the elephant after tranquilising it, and it was pushed into an animal ambulance with the support of four Kumki elephants.

The Kerala forest department has warned the Tamil Nadu counterparts that the elephant was roaming in Tamil Nadu forest areas and was reaching areas close to human habitats.

Local people informed that the wild tusker entered human settlements in Meghamala, Iravingalar and Manamalar areas Friday late night and early Saturday morning and attempted to harm crops. However, forest guards and local farmers drove the animal away.

The farmer told IANS, "We have heard enough of this rogue elephant. We don't know when he will trample us and destroy our crops. We are afraid of even going out in the evenings and nights as the presence of the elephant cannot be detected, and one might unknowingly land in front of it."

The Tamil Nadu forest department has formed a 120-strong force to keep a vigil on the entry of the rogue elephant into the human settlements and to wade away the animal using gunshots and throwing country-made firearms, IANS learned.