COIMBATORE: In the wake of the intrusion of a wild elephant, Doddabetta Peak, a popular tourist destination in the Nilgiris, was shut on Tuesday.
The elephant ventured out of the reserve forest area to visit the Coonoor locality on Monday. It then strolled through the tea estates and forests to reach the highest peak in the State.
At night, the elephant wandered along the Kodappamund Road, bound for Ooty town, and devoured carrots and radishes kept for sale by shopkeepers along the roadside. As the elephant continued to camp on the stretch, the forest department stopped vehicles from passing through.
On the directions of S Gowtham, Divisional Forest Officer (Nilgiris), a team of over 30 forest department personnel made concerted efforts all through the night to prevent the elephant from straying into Ooty town.
The elephant on Tuesday morning entered the Doddabetta Reserve forest area. The forest department has been monitoring the elephant by deploying a drone camera. “Even though the elephant is habituated to visit Coonoor and neighbouring areas, this is the first time it has come to the Doddabetta peak,” said a staff.
“Efforts will be taken to guide the elephant back into the forest area. If nothing works out, the elephant will be captured by administering tranquilisation shots, considering the safety of tourists,” said an official.