With Vinayagan gone, Chinna Thambi raids crops with pals
Nivedha Selvam | Nivedha.Selvam1@timesgroup.com | Dec 24, 2018, 00:48 ISTCoimbatore: At a time when the translocated wild tusker Vinayagan has started to mingle with a herd in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve forests in the Nilgiris, his companion Chinna Thambi continues to raid crops by bringing in more wild elephants into human habitations in Thadagam valley.
“Chinna Thambi continues to enter human habitations even after Vinayagan was translocated. At times, he brings herds along with him and teach them crop raiding,” said a source from forest department.
About two months ago, the tusker was found with a herd comprising four male elephants. Of late, he was found roaming with a herd including a mother elephant Makhna and its calf, the source said, adding that the tusker has been changing groups.
The source said Chinna Thambi was teaching other elephants to raid crops and at least one or two elephants would learn to raid crops.
Restricting its home zone from Marudhamalai to Palamalai, Chinna Thambi raided even a small field at Kalappanaickenpalayam near Thadagam.
“We have been monitoring the movements of Chinna Thambi and whenever it tries to enter human habitations, we have been trying to drive it off into the forests. But, he continues to enter human habitations during the night hours,” district forest officer (DFO) of Coimbatore D Venkatesh said.
Meanwhile, the translocated tusker, Vinayagan, has started to mingle with a herd in Mudhumalai tiger reserve forest and the forest department has formed a team to monitor the movements of the tusker.
“Vinayagan has recovered. He is healthy and moving. He was found feeding and urinating which is a healthy sign. Initially, the tusker was little slow because of the tranquilizer, but he has completely recovered now,” deputy director of Mudhumalai Tiger Reserve Shenbaga Priya said.
She said the animal would start accepting the range as his home at the earliest.
“He has started to mingle with herds and would be embracing a peaceful life at the earliest. Currently, he is in his musth period and he would completely adapt to its new place as soon as his musth period ends as the forest is filled with grass and perennial water source,” said a source involved in the monitoring operation.
Vinayagan was dropped on Sand Road on Tuesday. It has traversed Bandhipur and regions of Kerala and Karnataka.
“Chinna Thambi continues to enter human habitations even after Vinayagan was translocated. At times, he brings herds along with him and teach them crop raiding,” said a source from forest department.
About two months ago, the tusker was found with a herd comprising four male elephants. Of late, he was found roaming with a herd including a mother elephant Makhna and its calf, the source said, adding that the tusker has been changing groups.
The source said Chinna Thambi was teaching other elephants to raid crops and at least one or two elephants would learn to raid crops.
Restricting its home zone from Marudhamalai to Palamalai, Chinna Thambi raided even a small field at Kalappanaickenpalayam near Thadagam.
“We have been monitoring the movements of Chinna Thambi and whenever it tries to enter human habitations, we have been trying to drive it off into the forests. But, he continues to enter human habitations during the night hours,” district forest officer (DFO) of Coimbatore D Venkatesh said.
Meanwhile, the translocated tusker, Vinayagan, has started to mingle with a herd in Mudhumalai tiger reserve forest and the forest department has formed a team to monitor the movements of the tusker.
“Vinayagan has recovered. He is healthy and moving. He was found feeding and urinating which is a healthy sign. Initially, the tusker was little slow because of the tranquilizer, but he has completely recovered now,” deputy director of Mudhumalai Tiger Reserve Shenbaga Priya said.
She said the animal would start accepting the range as his home at the earliest.
“He has started to mingle with herds and would be embracing a peaceful life at the earliest. Currently, he is in his musth period and he would completely adapt to its new place as soon as his musth period ends as the forest is filled with grass and perennial water source,” said a source involved in the monitoring operation.
Vinayagan was dropped on Sand Road on Tuesday. It has traversed Bandhipur and regions of Kerala and Karnataka.
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