Coimbatore: To combat the increasing man-animal conflict in terms of herds of pachyderms straying into human habitations, trampling of human beings and crop raid, the Forest Department has commandeered the services of two trained/tamed kumki elephants from the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary.

Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle, R. Kannan and District Forest Officer I. Anwardeen decided to have two kumki elephants stationed at Kovanur close to Periyanaickenpalayam for tackling the menace.

The twins of Mudumalai Forest Department camp elephant Devagi namely Sujay and Vijay (38) have been brought to Kovanur and the operations for chasing the herd deep back into the reserve forests are being executed by Forest Veterinarian N.S. Manoharan and Range Officer N. Pannneerselvam.

The topography of the place, migratory path and the habitual straying path and pattern of the pachyderms havebeen assessed.

Four mahouts and cavadis along with four tribal people have come along with the kumkis for assisting the staff. The officials are confident of strategically deploying the kumkis and ensuring that the herd got back onto the right migratory track and into the deep jungles.

Officials are expecting the exercise to be completed within two days and thereafter the herd movement would be watched for at least a fortnight before the kumkis are sent back to the Mudumalai camp.

Courtesy - Hindu