KALPETTA: Villagers under Vadakkanad Grama Samrakshana Samithy organised a protest march into the jungle on Wednesday against "undue delay" in capturing the problem elephant of Vadakkanad on the fringes of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
Forest staff and police blocked the marchers on the border. Samithy convener Fr Joby Mukkattuka- vunkal said the forest officials had sought 15 more days to capture the elephant.
“We have given them the time and warned them that if they fail to keep the promise, we will be forced to freeze our activities as the people would lose their faith in us,” he told DC.
“We will not be responsible for anything taking place after we withdrew as the height of fury among farmers is such that."
Forest officials said that at least three Kumki elephants are necessary to capture the tusker, but all in the neighbouring sanctuaries are on rest after a capturing mission.
The animal that went off after giving months of sleepless nights for them had crossed into the forest region of Wayanad recently.
A sturdy cage is already at Muthanga elephant camp to house the animal.
Radio-collared earlier, the forest staff receives regular signals indicating its movement.
