Wild elephant darted faints, ‘Ganapathy’ threatened and chased

ATHIRAPPILLY: A wild elephant that sustained injuries on its forehead fainted after being darted with a tranquilizer. The elephant fainted after walking a short distance. Water is being poured on the elephant to make it stand up. Three Kumki elephants have been posted around the elephant. Konni Surendran, Kunju and Vikram have arrived to restrain the elephant. The path to reach the elephant in the oil palm plantation had to be cleared.

The elephant will be loaded into a lorry and taken to the Kodanad Kaprikkadu Abhayaranyam. The vehicles are kept ready to transport the elephant. Another wild elephant Ganapathy, who was seen with the elephant darted, was threatened and chased away with a gunshot. The wild elephant injured was then tranquilized.

The elephant seen in Athirappilly was tranquilized at 7.15 am. The elephant was in the 14th block adjacent to the Vettilappara river. A 25-member team is led by Dr Arun Zakharia. The officers have been divided into five teams for the mission. The teams have been classified as tracking, supporting, darting, kumki, and transportation. Traffic restrictions have been imposed on the plantation road.

The injured elephant was first seen in the plantation estate on January 15. The elephant was caught on the 24th and treated. However, it was later decided to continue treatment after the wound was found to be infested with maggots.