Tusker Arisi Raja out of kraal after training

Coimbatore: Captive wild elephant Arisi Raja alias Muthu has been released from the kraal at the Varagaliyar elephant camp near Topslip.
Forest department staff will observe the animal for 10 days to trace any aggressive behaviour. “We had kept the elephant in the kraal last November and he learned to obey the commands given by mahouts. To make sure that he does not get aggressive, a mahout, his assistant and frontline staff of the forest department will observe the elephant for 10 days before shifting him to the Kozhikamuthi elephant camp,” said an official.
The 19-year-old tusker earned the nickname Arisi Raja as he used to raid houses and shops in Aliyar in search of rice.
Forest department captured him from Arthanaripalayam village near Pollachi last November after he killed a minor girl at Navamalai in May and a man at Arthanaripalayam near Pollachi in November.
He was kept in a kraal, guarded by crop raider tusker Chinna Thambi. Forest department staff named him Muthu. He was taken out of the kraal on July 21.
Arisi Raja will participate in the World Elephant Day functions to be held on August 12 at the Varagaliyar elephant camp along with Chinna Thambi.