Panic after injured tusker enters town

Coimbatore: Residents of Dhaliyur and Onapalayam near the city have raised concern over the alleged apathy of forest officials in treating an injured lone tusker that had strayed into the town.
Residents said a lone tusker with an injury on its jaw had entered the locality on Friday. “The tusker also seemed to walk slowly. So, we informed forest officials who came to the spot and took stock of the situation. But they did not treat the elephant or take steps to drive it back into the forest,” said a source.

Some wildlife enthusiasts from the region alleged that officials were trying to drive the tusker towards Kerala without treating its injury.

However, a wildlife activist said the elephant seemed to be healthy. “It might be around 13 years old and it tries to charge at officials when they approached it,” the activist said.

A forest official said the tusker had joined with its herd and was normal. “Our team has been taking efforts to send it back into the forest,” the official said.

The official added that the injury on the tusker’s jaw might have been because of fighting with another male. “Our teams have been monitoring the situation continuously. Also our counterparts in Kerala are keeping an eye on the elephant’s movements, as it is in the border,” the official said. He also added that they wouldn’t interfere in any of the natural phenomenon, but they were also ready to act in case of any conflict.

The official also added that a veterinarian had visited the spot on Friday and took stock of the situation. “As it is with its herd of around seven elephants, we can’t approach it now for treating it. If it comes away from the herd, we will treat it for its injury,” the official said. TNN