Minister’s kumki idea irks activists

“Capturing an elephant from its habitat is the cruellest act for the animal. If elephants are removed from the landscape, the ecosystem will weaken further,” explained conservation scientist A Kumaraguru, who is also a member of Sathyamangalam Tiger Conservation Authority.

On an average, every elephant carries 20,000 plant seedlings through its dungs raising forest cover and this process will be thwarted by captivating the animal. Only elephants can create quality forests ranging from Shola to fruit-bearing wild berries and jackfruits, Kumaraguru noted.

There is no long-term study on wild herbivores and carnivores that stray. The need of the hour is a scientific study and behavioural approach towards Chinnamthambi. Any immediate suggestion may not be the proper solution. The long term solution for the all straying wildlife is restoration of quality forest, he added.

“It is sad to see a jumbo undergoing the pain of being tranquilised. But, the foresters are forced to take the extreme steps due to pressure from the public and the farmers,” opined M Ananda Kumar, wildlife scientist, Nature Conservation Foundation. Kumar also warned that a rise in forest degradation will only lead to enhanced wildlife conflicts in the Nilgiris biosphere.

“We took all efforts to rehabilitate the elephant. At first, we drove him into his home turf in the Thadagam valley and then relocated to Top Slip, but the jumbo returns to villages,” fumed a Forest official, hoping that Chinnamthambi confines himself into the deep woods.