NAGERCOIL: The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has clarified that the Arikomban, which reached the Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, is on its way to Kerala. Arikomban reached the Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary on Friday night. Officials say that radio collar signals are working fine and the elephant has traveled for several kilometers on Friday night and Saturday. Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over 402 km, is the source of seven rivers. This is the habitat of tigers. Tamil Nadu Forest Department officials are of the opinion that Arikomban is moving towards the forests of Kerala due to fear of tigers. There are tribal villages in the wildlife sanctuary as well as many elephants.

Forest department officials are monitoring the movement of the tusker round the clock from Tirunelveli and relaying the information to Kanyakumari, Ambasamudram and the forest department headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. During the day on Friday, there was no signal from Arikomban's radio signal. Later signals were received 6 km away from Upper Kothayar damsite. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department says that the signal was lost when the elephant entered the inner forest.

Near Neyyar

The distance from Upper Kothayar to Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary is only 10 km. Walking distance is 150 km. The elephant walks 40 to 45 km a day. The animals walks mostly during the night.

Heavy surveillance

A 15-member team led by the DFO intensified surveillance in three teams after receiving information that the tusker had entered the Kanyakumari forest. The elephant is in the inner forest of Kanyakumari. It has not entered human settlement. If it comes towards a human settlement, the forest guards will chase the elephant into the inner forest. If necessary, they will also use tranquilizers.