Operation PT 7 a success, forest department cage tusker that caused fear in Palakkad

PALAKKAD: The forest department has caged PT 7, a wild tusker that has been destroying the crops of Palakkad farmers for years and causing fear in the district. The mission, which started yesterday, turned successful on the second day today. The plan of the team led by chief veterinary surgeon Dr Arun Zachariah was executed without any changes.

The operation started at 5.30 am today. This was after receiving information that the tusker was spotted at Corma in Dhoni. Around 7.10 in the morning, PT 7 was tranquilized by chief veterinary surgeon Dr Arun. The first phase of the mission was completed when the elephant was tranquilized right below its left ear. There was another muckna next to PT 7 when trying to tranquilize him. Therefore, the task force took every step with care.

It will take more than half an hour for the sedative to take effect. The second phase of the operation began at this time. It involves loading the elephant into the lorry with the help of kumkis. The JCB was brought to make way for the lorry. More personnel also came. There was also a concern on whether the tranquilized elephant would run into the residential areas. Therefore, the second phase of the operation was also very dangerous.

The forest department brought three kumkis-Vikram, Bharat and Surendran, to capture PT 7. The elephant was blindfolded with a black cloth and loaded into the lorry. The tusker tried to attack kumki Surendran while it was being loaded into the lorry, causing panic. After much effort, the elephant was loaded into the lorry. Then it was shifted to a huge cage made of eucalyptus wood. It will have to stay in the unbreakable cage until he calms down no matter how hard he tries.

Although left with all the preparations yesterday, the task force ended the attempt to tranquilize as it moved towards the inner forest. A 72-member team was in the task force to capture PT 7. There was an attempt to tranquilize and capture it if found alone in a safe place. The tusker has been creating panic from November 2022 in Dhoni, Mayapuram, Mundoor and some other places. The local residents said that it was a great relief to have been able to catch the elephant that was wreaking havoc in the residential areas. Minister M B Rajesh lauded the task force.