Coimbatore: Elephant experts have suggested relocating Chinna thambi to Mudumalai where the so-called another crop raider Vinayagan was released a month ago.
Two wild elephants named as Vinayagan and Chinna thambi by the local tribes were tranquilized and relocated from Coimbatore forest division recently following the pressure by a section people who allegedly claim themselves as farmers of Thadagam valley.
After observing a behavior change of remaining in a same forest division for many years instead of migrating the two elephants were radio collared before relocating them for further study. Vinayagan remains inside the dense forest till now without returning to human habitat after released in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR).
While Chinna thambi within a few days returned to human habitat after crossing hundreds of kilometers from Varagaliyar in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR). From Anamalai it reached Udumalpet and remains there.
Meanwhile, attempts were made to recapture the Chinna thambi to turn it into a kumki, following protests and a case that was filed at Madras high court on Monday pleading for a stay against capturing Chinna thambi.
A petition was also given to the Coimbatore collector demanding to bring back the two translocated elephants and release them in their home terrain (Thadagam valley) and taken action against various institutions and illegal brick chambers that have caused land use change by seriously disturbing the elephant migratory path, creating possibilities for man-animal conflict.
Meanwhile, forest department dropped the idea of capturing Chinnathambi. A team of around 80 forest staff along with few Kumkis are monitoring Chinnathambi and making attempts to drive it back into the forest.
Chinna thambi on Sunday night approached Kaleem, one among the kumkis brought from Top slip, for capturing operation. The two tuskers started to pamper each other and started to play for couple of hours; later Chinna thambi moved to a nearby abandoned land covered with thorny Juliflora bushes behind a cooperative sugar factory near Krishnapuram and remains there.
Meanwhile, actor and music director G.V.Prakash of Kollywood had posted on social media asking to leave Chinna thambi along with Vinayagan. An elephant researcher involved in many government projects told DC, “as an alternative attempt we can relocate Chinnathambi to Mudumalai where Vinayagan was released and leave him in neighboring range.”
Probabilities are Chinna thambi either remains calm inside the forest like Vinayagan, or join with Vianayagan and lead him to walk out of the forest and head to human habitats. As a study we can give an attempt, added the scientist.
