Alapuzha: Wild elephant Kallur Komban is yet to be released from the forest department's custody at Muthanga, Wayanad, where it is kept in a cage. It was captured on November 21 on the direction of Forest Minister K. Raju after it turned a regular crop raider in the area.
Mr P. Dhanesh Kumar, wildlife warden, said that the condition of the elephant had deteriorated as a result of multiple sedations. The elephant will be kept in Wayanad till the forest minister returns from abroad, he said.
The tusker can't be moved out at least for a week due to sedation. The protesters in Parambikulam area are against releasing the elephant to the Parambikulam forest area fearing threat to their life and properties.
Mr K. Babu, Nenmara MLA, said that the elephant would continue to raid the crops. "We will not allow it to be released in our area. I will meet the forest minster in this regard on February18," he told DC.
The oral direction not to release the elephant to the Parambikulam sanctuary was given by additional chief secretary P. Marapandiyan to the forest authorities on Sunday after protest by the local people.
Mr. Marapandyan had on Thursday directed the authorities to release the jumbo to the Parambikulam forest area after a group of environmentalists opposed the move to keep it at the kraal.
Animal rights activist Nibha Namboodiri had approached the High Court for its release and the court had asked the government to file an affidavit on the animal's condition.
Dr Saseendradev, veterinary surgeon, formerly with the forest department, said that the elephant couldn't be kept in the cage indefinitely. The forest department lacks trained professionals who can tame the wild elephant.
Animal rights activists have urged the government to take step to create a separate enclosure within the 60- acre area of Kurichiyad forest belt to keep captured wild animals.
Mr V.K.Venkitachalam, secretary, Heritage Animal Task Force, said that the Kurichiyad forest area had plenty of vegetation and water bodies to enable the elephant to live free. The enclosure should be fenced to prevent the attacks from other wild animals. At present, the elephants from the forest areas move towards the human settlements and cause loss of human lives and properties. The setting up of new enclosure could solve the issue, he said.
