Leaders of political parties and wannabe politicians in Tamil Nadu may be engaged in mutual annihilation by blaming each other over issues affecting the common man. But the state stands out because of the qualities of humane and concern still prevailing among the rural population. The Pioneer had reported about Ganeshan, a 55-year-old wild elephant which has been ailing for some time. Ganeshan, who has a good rapport with the villagers living on the outskirts of the O’Valley Range of Cherambady reserve forest in Ootty district is a hero because of his cordial ties with the local community. The news was that Ganeshan had suffered a serious injury on its right forelimb and found it difficult to move around. When he was confined to the potential conflict-prone zone in the periphery of the reserve forests, the local community could make out that Ganeshan was not in the best of health as he was not one who created problems for them.
G Ramakrishnan, forest ranger, Gudalur, deployed his men for a reconnaissance mission and found that Ganeshan was really sick. He got the services of Manoharan, the forest department’s veterinary surgeon, to attend to Ganeshan. After a fortnight of medical treatment, Ganeshan was on his feet by Friday and by late evening he moved deep into the reserve forests without any help. “He has completely recovered from the swollen right forelimb and is on his own. The forest officials as well as the local community took care of him throughout his ailment. He was provided with his favourite ragi balls, rice balls and banana leaves stuffed with the medicines. He had a real good time,” Ramakrishnan told The Pioneer over phone from Gudalur.