Foresters may tranquilize makhna to treat wounds in Tamil Nadu

COIMBATORE: The forest department on Thursday decided to treat an injured makhna (tuskless male elephant) that strayed into the plains near Velliankadu in Karamadai forest range on Tuesday.
According to a forest officer, the makhna, which was aged between 10 and 15 years, came out of the reserve forest around 5am on Tuesday. When alerted, he said, the forest field staff chased the wild elephant away into the reserve forest.

The same evening, the officer said, the makhna strayed into the plains again. “The elephant is very weak and unable to take proper food. It is, however, drinking enough water.”
A Sukumar, forest veterinary officer, Coimbatore forest division, visited the spot and came to know that the elephant had sustained injuries to its mouth. “It could have happened during an infighting. The elephant has lost a lot of weight, as it hasn’t taken any food for many days. On Wednesday, we gave the elephant fruits mixed with antibiotics to treat the wound. A team has also been deployed to monitor the elephant,” the officer said.
Meanwhile, around 250 farmers staged a road roko at Aathimathaiyanur near Karamadai on Thursday, demanding the forest department to capture the wild elephant and translocate it to some other place to avoid any untoward incidents. The forest officers and police held talks with them and pacified them.
Conservator of forests S Ramasubramanian, district forest officer T K Ashok Kumar, Karamadai forest range officer N Divya visited the area on the day and decided to tranquilize the elephant, if needed, to treat its wound. Subsequently, three teams led by forest veterinary officers Sukumar, Sadasivam and E Vijayaragavan were formed for the purpose.
“We will bring kumki Chinna Thambi from Kozhikamuthi elephant camp at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve to assist the teams. We are closely monitoring the elephant at Velliankadu,” Divya said.