Crop-raiding jumbo 'Chinnathambi' captured by forest officials

After a failed attempt to capture the elephant Chinnathambi, the 25-year-old jumbo forest officials tranquilised and captured the tuskar on Friday with the help of Kumkies.

The elephant, fitted with a radio-collar was translocated from the outskirts of Coimbatore to Varagaliar by forest department personnel on January 25, but within days, it ventured into human habitations again.

It was translocated following complaints from residents about the elephant destroying crops and damaging houses for the last seven months.

The forest department conceded that the jumbo has been used to crop raiding and it may not stay in the forests even if left back in the jungle. According to a forest department staff, “It has become a habitual crop raider. The only option left is to capture it and train him into a Kumki.”

However, the forest department remained quiet on their plans and they claimed that they are awaiting orders from the higher officials. “Everything is in place to capture the animal. But the operation would be undertaken only if given the nod by the government,” a forest department staff added.