KUMILY: Arikomban, which was captured from Chinnakanal and released in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, reached the Tamil Nadu forest region on Thursday. This was confirmed in a radio caller signal received on Thursday afternoon. Arikomban is located in Suruliyar under the Megamalai Tiger Reserve, owned by Tamil Nadu. It will reach a tea plantation if it comes out of this region. Several tea plantation workers are living there. Hence, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has issued instructions to remain alert. A team of forest guards was also deployed to prevent the elephant from going out of the forest.

Arikomban is now about 25 km away from the place it was released. It went to Megamalai from the Mangala Devi forest region. Many people will come to the Mangala Devi temple as it is the Chitrapournami festival of the temple on Friday. More forest rangers have been deployed as Arikomban is likely to return to the area. They were also directed to burst firecrackers to chase away the elephant if necessary.

The elephant travelled more than 30 kilometres in three days. On Wednesday evening, Arikomban was seen in the Mavadi area of the Periyar tiger sanctuary. The watchers had seen the elephant there. The elephant then started his journey at night.