Udhagamandalam: An elephant resembling the rogue tusker, Shankar, which killed three people in Gudalur division in the Nilgiris in December last and subsequently moved to Kerala forest was found near Cheramabadi forest area on Wednesday night. Shankar evaded the forest department’s attempt of capturing it even after tranquilizing it with a dart on December 17, 2020.
“On Thursday, we found the elephant and a calf in a herd in the Cheramabadi forest area. However, we are not sure if it is the same rogue elephant which killed three people in December last,” district forest officer of Gudalur division Sumesh Soman said.
He said only when the elephant moves little away from the herd and the thick forest, it could be identified by its ears and tusks. Shankar has small tusks; one of which is broken.
Meanwhile, the forest department is in the exercise of mobilizing teams and kumkis to capture the jumbo.
“Our priority now is sensitizing the public in that area. Shankar seems to be calmed down. Since it is with a herd that too with a calf, it would be a threat to the forest staff if they approach it,” Soman said.
He added, “We need at least four to five kumkis to handle the elephant to tranquilize it. We have alerted the forest and the local veterinarians. Teams have been formed for the operation of capturing it.”
One kumki has already reached the Cherambadi area.
The DFO said, “Once located, the jumbo will be tranquilized and with the help of kumkis it will be taken to the Theppakadu elephant camp in MTR.”
The rogue elephant had killed the trio, including a father and son on December 11 and 13 in Gudalur division, creating panic among the public.
The rogue elephant unleashed a rampage in 2016 in Pandalur taluk in the division.