ALAPPUZHA: Mullakkal Balakrishnan, pulled out of the marsh on Tuesday, is still staying at the swampy Ananthankari area of Thuravoor, now hardened by stacks of sand bundles.
The temple elephant's movement would be decided only after a detailed check up by vets from the forest dept on Thursday.
Saseendra Dev, a vet with Travancore Devaswom Board who is currently treating Balakrishnan, said his condition was stable. "The musth period was over a month ago," he said denying reports that it ran amok because of musth.
"Maybe it jumped out of the vehicle due to other reasons."
According to him, the elephant is seen calm on Wednesday morning and began taking food. However, it’s tough to move the elephant through the area as the place is remote.
A team of mahouts is at the spot, and the one who was kept away from the elephant because of the possibility of provocation was brought back on Wednesday.
However, the 45-year-old animal of TDB went on breaking a shed near the house premise soon after he was pulled out of the swamp and the vets at the scene tranquilised and tethered him to the nearby coconut tree.
Meanwhile, local people protested when the TDB officials came demanding compensation for property losses the elephant caused.
They ended the protest after getting an assurance. On Tuesday, Balakrishnan had damaged a vehicle and a compound wall before falling into the swamp.
It was in the wee hours of Tuesday Balakrishnan jumped out of the vehicle ran amok about six km through the narrow lane.
Local men, firefighters, vets and the police pulled him out of the marsh after a 17-hour long mammoth operation. He was taken to Alappuzha from Thrikkakara temple in Ernakulam after paraded at Onam festivities.
