Tusker that killed 3 to be shifted to Billigundlu

Villagers heaved a sigh of relief as the jumbo was spreading terror in the hamlets bordering the forest over the last two days. Efforts to capture the animal began on Sunday after people sought to prevent its entry into residential areas. It took over a day for the animal, which was on an attacking spree, to be caught. 

Two persons, Rajappa, 70, of Banthirakotta village and Muniraj, 60, of Oddaiyanoor died in separate elephant attacks on Saturday, while K Devan, 57, who ventured out of his house on Sunday night was found dead on Monday morning near Chinnar. A large team of around 100 Forest Department staff led by chief conservator of forest A K Ulaganathan began the operation to capture the jumbo on Sunday. 

However, the elephant could not be traced in the wild despite a day-long search in the Rayakottai Forest Range. The animal also didn’t venture out of the forests. On Monday, villagers noticed the elephant roaming near Oddaiyanoor and informed the Forest Department. 

“Around 11.30 am, veterinarian Prakash fired a couple of tranquiliser darts to sedate the elephant,” said an official. Tension prevailed for a while when the elephant tried to charge the Forest Department staff. The elephant was then shifted to a special ambulance meant for transporting jumbos. It is likely to be released about 150 km in the jungles at Billigundlu on the Tamil Nadu border. The department will also facilitate the entry of the jumbo into the Cauvery North Wild Life Sanctuary. It will be tracked for a few more days. Meanwhile, a was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Gudalur Forest Range late on Sunday night. 

Forest officials said the victim, Subramani alias Maran (37), a tea estate worker from Kurumbarpadi, was returning home through a tea estate, when he was attacked by the elephant.

The forest department is preparing to trap a sloth bear after frequent sightings of the animal were reported in the Masinagudi Town area near the Mudumalai National Park.

According to forest department staff, the sloth bear has been frequenting the Masinagudi Town during nights over the last few days. “The bear was found straying around the Masinagudi police station. Its movement has been captured on a CCTV camera,” said S Kanthan, forest range officer, Singara Range. Intrusions by sloth bears have prompted fear-stricken locals to demand protection for their lives. 

A team of around 14 staff members of the forest department from both the Singara and Masinagudi ranges, has been formed to track the bear. The bear was found straying out of the jungles of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve on a regular basis. “We are tracking the movement of the animal. It will be driven into the deep forests and prevented from straying again into the town area. If not, the bear will be captured and relocated,” said the official. The forest department has also placed three cages with baits to trap the bear.