Arikomban enters Kerala, forest department strengthens surveillance, travels more than 30 kms in three days

KUMILY: Arikomban captured from Chinnakanal is in the Periyar range forest area. The rogue tusker entered Kerala from Tamil Nadu at night. The tusker was in Manalar Estate in Tamil Nadu yesterday.

Many will arrive as Chitrapournami festival of Mangaladevi temple is being held today. More forest guards have been deployed as there is a possibility of the tusker to return to this area. Directions have been given to burst crackers to chase it if necessary. Meantime, Kumki elephants have returned to Muthanga after Arikomban mission.

Tusker travelled more than 30 kms
The tusker traveled more than thirty kilometers in three days. The elephant was in Mavadi area of Periyar tiger sanctuary on Wednesday evening. The watchers had seen the elephant. The journey started from here at night. The tusker reached Iravankalar part through border forest area near Vattathotti, Highways Dam and Upper Manalar places. From here it reached Churuliyar. The signals were received that it had gone back and forth along the same path it had traveled in the past few days.