One of the tusks of Chinna Thambi was broken while being loaded on to the truck with the help of an earthmover during the first capture of the elephant from Thadagam on January, 26. The elephant’s other tusk was broken after it pierced the metal moulding of driver’s cabin.
The Forest Department faced much criticism for the cracks in the tusk.
But all these concerns were well-addressed during Friday’s operation as the department made use of one of the two trucks brought from Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala.
The trucks are configured with hydraulic pulley, which can drag the elephant on to the vehicle.
A big rope was tied around Chinna Thambi’s neck as a belt.
Two ropes were then attached to the belt on both sides, other ends of which were attached to the hydraulic pulley. With the assistance of two kumkis on both sides, Chinna Thambi was easily dragged and loaded on to the truck in 20 minutes.
“The two trucks were brought on a special request. The hydraulic pulley worked well and the Forest Department will consider configuring our trucks with similar or even better system,” said P. K. Dileep, District Forest Officer, Tirupur.
The two trucks were also brought for the operation with an intention to take two kumkis from ATR for an operation at Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad in the coming days.