Idukki: The elephant, nicknamed ‘Arikomban’, who was taken away from Chinnakanal in Kerala for being troublesome and dangerous is now wreaking havoc in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. Arikomban which was released in the Periyar Tiger Reserve has already destroyed a vehicle belonging to the forest department.
Following the attack by the elephant, a curfew is imposed in Meghamalai and restrictions clamped on travellers.
Arikomban has been roaming around Meghamalai for the last two days. He destroyed farming areas and a forest department vehicle of Tamil Nadu.
When the elephant tried to destroy a plantain cultivation, the forest officials tried to scare it away. This angered the elephant which destroyed the department vehicle. At present the forest officials and locals have drove the elephant towards the forests located in Tamil Nadu itself.
Following the incidents, the Deputy Director of the Periyar Forest Reserve and other officials have reached Meghamalai. Efforts will be made to bring back the elephant into the Periyar Forest Reserve itself. A team of 120 persons have been constituted by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to contain Arikomban.
Even though a radio collar has been placed on the elephant, the officials in Kerala are not able to give information to Tamil Nadu. It is believed that the radio collar is not working due to the changes in the climate.
Earlier, visuals of Arikomban at the Manaloor Estate had surfaced. It was the first visuals of the elephant after he was released into the Periyar Tiger Reserve. It was taken when he came to drink water from Meghamalai and returned into the Periyar Forest Reserve.
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