Coimbatore: Wild chase for elusive tusker Rolex ends with its capture
After one-and-a-half-month operation elephant finally tranquillised at Ichukkuzhi
wild elephant popularly known as Rolex
CHENNAI: After an arduous one-and-a-half-month-long operation, the forest department has finally captured the evasive wild tusker ‘Rolex’, which has been involved in multiple instances of negative interactions with human beings, in Coimbatore on Friday.
The tusker, a habitual crop raider in farms adjoining the forest area, is also suspected of having attacked a few persons to death and damaged houses. Following persistent demands by villagers, the forest department took measures to capture the elephant a few months ago.
The capturing operation faced a setback after Rolex attacked E Vijayaraghavan, Forest Veterinary Officer from Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), leaving him injured on September 20. At the same time, two kumkis, Narasimman and Muthu, deployed in the search operation, also developed ‘musth’, a period of heightened aggression, and they were taken back to the elephant camp.
After a hiatus, the capturing efforts resumed by bringing Kumkis, Chinnathambi and Kapildev from ATR and two others, Wasim and Bomman, from the Theppakadu elephant camp in Mudumalai.
With the help of four kumkis, the forest department staff tracked the wild elephant, and under the supervision of District Forest Officer N Jayaraj, a team of veterinarians comprising N Kalaivanan, K Rajesh Kumar, and S Vennila tranquillised Rolex at Ichukkuzhi near Thondamuthur at 2 am on Friday.
As the tusker came under the influence of sedation, the forest department tied ropes on its legs and neck while restraining it with kumkis. It was then goaded into a truck and taken to Varagaliar camp.
An official of the forest department termed the capturing operation to be most challenging, as Rolex was sensitive to sound and light and would retreat into the forest even at a slight provocation.
“Special teams tracked the 40-year-old elephant for 25 days to study its behaviour pattern, its habituated routes, and its crop raiding time. After a deep understanding, the elephant was tranquillised at 2 am and taken to Varagaliar. The tusker will be restrained in a kraal and examined before deciding on whether to convert the elephant into a kumki or release it into the wild,” said an official.
Meanwhile, villagers in Thondamuthur and its surrounding areas heaved a sigh of relief following the capture of the tusker.
