Straying tusker in human habitats in Wayanad driven away to forest
The Hindu
April 10, 2024
Forest department officials drove away a problematic tusker, known among
residents as ‘Muttikomban’, to the forest from a human habitat at
Panayamabam under the Kurichyad forest range in the Wayanad Wildlife
Sanctuary on Wednesday.
The elephant triggered panic among residents at Valluvadi, Panayambam, and
Vadakkanad after it strayed into human habitats. The animal also destroyed
crops in the areas.
Though a team of Forest officials drove away the elephant into the forest
at Kallurkunnu with the assistance of three trained elephants (Kumkis) of
Muthanga elephant kraal on Tuesday evening, the animal appeared again in
the morning.
“We drove away the tusker to the interior forest of the sanctuary around
4.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The operation began around 7 a.m.,” assistant
wildlife warden P.D. Ratheesh said.
Apart from the three Kumki elephants, as many as 30 frontline Forest staff,
including members of the rapid response team of the Forest department, took
part in the operation.
However, residents said the elephant had been driven away to the forest
several times, but it had returned to human habitats and destroyed crops a
few weeks later. Hence a permanent solution to the issue was the need of
the hour, they added.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/straying-tusker-in-human-habitats-in-wayanad-driven-away-to-forest/article68050620.ece
Straying tusker in human habitats in Wayanad driven away to forest
The Hindu
April 10, 2024
Forest department officials drove away a problematic tusker, known among
residents as ‘Muttikomban’, to the forest from a human habitat at
Panayamabam under the Kurichyad forest range in the Wayanad Wildlife
Sanctuary on Wednesday.
The elephant triggered panic among residents at Valluvadi, Panayambam, and
Vadakkanad after it strayed into human habitats. The animal also destroyed
crops in the areas.
Though a team of Forest officials drove away the elephant into the forest
at Kallurkunnu with the assistance of three trained elephants (Kumkis) of
Muthanga elephant kraal on Tuesday evening, the animal appeared again in
the morning.
“We drove away the tusker to the interior forest of the sanctuary around
4.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The operation began around 7 a.m.,” assistant
wildlife warden P.D. Ratheesh said.
Apart from the three Kumki elephants, as many as 30 frontline Forest staff,
including members of the rapid response team of the Forest department, took
part in the operation.
However, residents said the elephant had been driven away to the forest
several times, but it had returned to human habitats and destroyed crops a
few weeks later. Hence a permanent solution to the issue was the need of
the hour, they added.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/straying-tusker-in-human-habitats-in-wayanad-driven-away-to-forest/article68050620.ece