The operation ‘Malai’ to tranquilise and shift wild elephants roaming in Tiruvannamalai region would begin on Tuesday morning, officials said.
The forest department has decided to tranquilise the herd of six wild elephants inside the reserve forest area in Pennaiyar Reserve Forest (RF) area, near Chengam. “The herd has not moved from the Pennaiyar RF for the last two days, forcing us to change the plan. They will be tranquilised at the present location,” said the official. The earlier plan was to drive them to a government seed farm with the help of Kumkis and tranquilise them there before being shifted to elephant camps. The district administration may invoke Section 144 of CrPC, to prevent people’s movement in Thandrampet and Ravanthavadi area.
Meanwhile, the renovated ‘Elephant Kraal’ at Varakaliyar tribal settlement near Topslip in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) was being readied to train three wild elephants that were likely to be brought from Tiruvannamalai. Chief Conservator of Forest and field Director of Anamalai tiger reserve Rajiv Sri K Vastava inspected the Varakaliyar on Monday morning with officials.