Kovai forest dept staff killed in jumbo attack

R Venkatesh (28), native of Virudhunagar and member of Rapid Response Team (RRT) of the forest department was driving away a wild jumbo in Pappanaickenpalayam, near Thadagam along with two other members by firing crackers, when the elephant suddenly charged towards him.

According to a forest department staff, “He took to his heels, but slipped to the ground and came under attack of the elephant. The elephant lifted Venkatesh by its trunk and flung to the ground before trampling him. He succumbed to injuries on the spot in the violent attack.”

Following this, the forest department retrieved his body by chasing away the elephant by firing more crackers. The forest department sources said that Venkatesh has joined RRF only three months ago and his father Ramasamy was a retired staff from the forest 

department.

Meanwhile, a large number of Tamil Nadu Anti-Poaching Watchers and other Workers Association (TNAPWWA), anti-depredation squad and anti-poaching watchers gathered at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), where the body was kept for post-mortem, demanding the government to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to be paid to the kin of the deceased person.

“The RRT members were recruited only on a contractual basis and do not get any compensation even though they risk their lives to save people from elephant attacks. We weren’t provided with crucial safety equipments like torch lights, adequate crackers and other safety gear while being involved in elephant drives,” said a RRT member, requesting anonymity. 

Chief Conservator of Forests Deepak Srivastava and District Forest Officer D Venkatesh visited the CMCH and consoled the family members of the deceased person.

A 48-year-old tea estate farmer was severely injured in bear attack in Kotagiri, in The Nilgiris, on Thursday.

According to the forest department, Natraj, from Sholurmattam had visited his tea estate in Kozhimarada area at 6 am, when two bears sprang on him and attacked.

Even as he lost balance and fell down, the bears continued their attack. On hearing his loud screams, the labourers rushed to the spot and chased away the bears.

The severely injured Natraj was rushed to Sholurmattam Government Hospital. After administering first aid, he was then transferred to Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) for further treatment.

On receiving information, the forest department staff reached the spot and enhanced vigil to prevent the bears from straying out of the forest cover. The forest department staff also visited the injured farmer and assured him of providing compensation.

Nine poachers were arrested for hunting black-naped hare in the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) under the limits of Kadayam Forest Range, Tirunelveli district, on Thursday. 

According to C Nellai Nayagam, Forest Range Officer, Kadayam, “Acting on a tip off, a team of forest personnel nabbed the culprits after a search operation and seized a carcass of black-naped hare from them. 

A fine of Rs 1.85 lakh was slapped on the accused.” The accused in the present case have been identified as Muthuraj, Gopalakrishnan, Shanmugathurai and Pathirakali of Vadakku Madathur and Kumar, Sudalai, Parthiban, Servaikaran and Sivaramakrishnan of Vengadampatti.