Reporter's Diary: A jumbo problem and a pregnant silence

Often, they are unsure if they are to favour the elephants or humans as both parties in this conflict have enough NGOs rooting for their cause. But things got a  little too ugly for the Coimbatore forest department recently after a lady advocate walked into their office and hurled abuses at the department staff for doing something they thought was a humanitarian (or elephantine) act. About two weeks ago, forest officials were alerted about an aged, sick elephant lying on a field in the Periyathadagam area. 

The forest officials provided basic treatment to the animal and released it into the forests. The pachyderm, however, was found  lying in another place the next day. Upon checking this time, forest veterinarians discovered she was pregnant and shifted her to an elephant camp so that she could deliver under supervision. Thanks to their intervention, the elephant gave birth to a healthy calf. 

Even as the forest officials were expecting a pat on the back for their work, a lady advocate walked into their office and hurled the nastiest of abuses for – guess what – not allowing the pregnant elephant to deliver in the wild in peace! — MK Ananth, Coimbatore