With the help of Kumki elephants, the 15-year old PM2 Makna elephant was safely loaded into a truck and released overnight into the Asuramattam forest area of Segur forest area which falls under the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve area. Locals were relieved at the capture of the elephant that had been rampaging the area for the past two years.
The Nilgiris: A 15-year-old PM2 Makna elephant had been roaming around Puliyambarai, Vazhavayal and Devala areas near Gudalur in the Nilgiris district for the past two years.
While the elephant retreated to the forest cover during the day, the elephant used to stray into residential areas and ransack rice inside houses by breaking down the walls.
Thus far, over 50 houses had been damaged by the Makna elephant. Last month, the elephant had attacked the house of a 52-year-old woman named Paapathi in Vazhavayal area and killed her. Following this, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department granted permission to capture the elephant and release it into the Mudumalai forest area owing to the demands of the panic-stricken locals.
After 18 days of concerted effort, an anesthetic injection was administered to the elephant at the Needle Rock forest area near Puliyambarai, on Thursday afternoon. Later, with the help of Kumki elephants, the elephant was safely loaded into a truck and transported overnight to the Asuramattam forest area under the Segur forest area which falls under the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve area.
Later, a radio collar was fitted around the elephant's neck to monitor its movement, after which it was safely released into the forest in the early hours of Friday. The elephant reportedly got down from the truck and started grazing for a while before returning to the forest area.
Relieved locals in Gudalur congratulated the Forest Department officials for capturing the Makna elephant which had long been a threat to people in the area.
While the elephant retreated to the forest cover during the day, the elephant used to stray into residential areas and ransack rice inside houses by breaking down the walls.
Thus far, over 50 houses had been damaged by the Makna elephant. Last month, the elephant had attacked the house of a 52-year-old woman named Paapathi in Vazhavayal area and killed her. Following this, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department granted permission to capture the elephant and release it into the Mudumalai forest area owing to the demands of the panic-stricken locals.
After 18 days of concerted effort, an anesthetic injection was administered to the elephant at the Needle Rock forest area near Puliyambarai, on Thursday afternoon. Later, with the help of Kumki elephants, the elephant was safely loaded into a truck and transported overnight to the Asuramattam forest area under the Segur forest area which falls under the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve area.
Later, a radio collar was fitted around the elephant's neck to monitor its movement, after which it was safely released into the forest in the early hours of Friday. The elephant reportedly got down from the truck and started grazing for a while before returning to the forest area.
Relieved locals in Gudalur congratulated the Forest Department officials for capturing the Makna elephant which had long been a threat to people in the area.