Efforts on to nab Arikomban, says Stalin; plea in Kerala HC against harm to rice eating tusker

Known for its love for rice and ration shop raids in Kerala, Arikomban was last month translocated to the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

BySouth First Desk

Published May 31, 2023 | 1:10 PMUpdatedMay 31, 2023 | 1:10 PM

Arikomban sleeping in a tea plantation in Munnar.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on has said the state Forest Department was making all efforts to nab the rogue wild tusker Arikomban. The tusker strayed into the state from neighbouring Kerala last week and allegedly attacked a man in Theni, who later died.

The chief minister, who condoled the death of 56-year-old Paulraj, who died on Tuesday, 30 May, days after allegedly being attacked by the elephant.

Stalin also announced ₹5 lakh relief to the family of the victim.

With the wild pachyderm roaming through the streets, civic authorities made announcements on public address systems, cautioning people against venturing outdoors, as videos of the elephant running around went viral.

Panicked local residents were seen running for safety, even as Arikomban went around Cumbum town, bordering Kerala.

Known for its love for rice and ration shop raids in Kerala, Arikomban was last month translocated to the Periyar Tiger Reserve. It strayed into Cumbum town in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district on 27 May.

Also read: Arikomban wreaks havoc in Cumbum in TN

TN Forest Department to nab Arikomban

In a statement, Stalin said a team of experienced forest officials has been formed under the field director of Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve (SMTR) to nab the wild tusker.

A team of veterinarians and 16 elephant trackers was monitoring the movement of the pachyderm. Efforts were on to “safely” direct it into the forest area, he said.

“A separate control room for this purpose has been set up at the Cumbum Forest Range Office. Around 200 forest personnel from elsewhere have been deployed for the security of the local people,” the chief minister added.

Meanwhile, an official release said the elephant is being tracked through a radio collar.

Also read: Arikomban captured and relocated after month-long drama

Measures in place

Three Kumki elephants (trained pachyderms used in subduing wild ones) are at the spot to support the operation, a release from the office of Supriya Sahu, state additional chief secretary, Environment, Climate Change & Forest Department, said.

The field director, SMTR, has formed four core teams to operate in two shifts to monitor the elephant’s movement.

Separate teams for logistics, Kumki handling, resource mobilisation and other requirements have been formed to operate round the clock, it said.

“An exclusive team is monitoring the safe passage of Arikomban, the elephant, with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to prevent electrocution,” the release added.

Law and order is being maintained through the proclamation of Section 144 in the Cumbum Municipality area. District Collector, Theni, is closely monitoring the situation.

“Despite the complex situation, all efforts are being taken to ensure the safety of the public while ensuring the safety of the elephant as well,” the release added.

Also Read: In defence of Arikomban — the ration-​shop raider of Munnar

Plea in Kerala High Court

 Meanwhile, a plea was moved on Tuesday, 30 May, in the Kerala High Court seeking directions to the Centre and the Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments to ensure that rice-eating tusker Arikomban is not harmed while being tranquilised.

The plea was filed by Sabu Jacob, managing director of Kitex Garments and president of an Ernakulam-based political party.

Jacob moved the court seeking directions that Arikomban, a wild bull elephant aged about 25, not be injured or harmed while being tranquilised before its translocation and rehabilitation.

The plea, which is listed for hearing before a bench of Justices Alexander Thomas and C Jayachandran, also sought that the tusker be translocated to some other “deep forest range”.

It also sought that the tusker, Arikomban, be handed over to Kerala for being translocated to any of the forest divisions of the state.

Mission Arikomban in Kerala

The pachyderm was captured in what was called “Mission Arikomban”, which culminated on 29 April, when the eponymous rice-thieving tusker was subdued with tranquillisers and relocated to the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

An earlier move to shift Arikomban to Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in Palakkad was abandoned after intense protests by locals living close to the forest there.

Arikomban is a portmanteau of the Malayalam words Ari, meaning rice, and Komban, meaning tusker.

The elephant, with short tusks, a stout physique, and a broad skull, is reportedly aged 25.

The elephant, with a penchant for rice, remained elusive till early morning on 29 April, despite large-scale arrangements to capture him.

The preparations included a dummy ration shop, four kumkis (trained elephants), and eight teams of more than 30 elephant experts.

Noted forest veterinarian Arun Zakaria coordinated the efforts.

According to officials, Arikomban was captured after administering tranquilliser darts five times.

 

(With PTI inputs)