Coimbatore: Wild elephant ‘Chinnathambi’ is no more fit to lead its life inside the dense forest, says elephant expert, Ajay Desai.
Chinnathambi, who walked out of Varagaliyaru in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) and returned to human habitat near Udumalpet Krishnapuram within a few days of its relocation from Coimbatore, remained behind a sugarcane mill for the sixth day playing along with Kumkis brought to drive him inside the forest.
While the forest department allegedly planned to turn Chinnathambi into a Kumki, activists along with lawyers and NGOs filed a case at the Madras High Court pleading that the move of turning Chinnathambi into a Kumki be done away with, and they also demanded the two translocated elephants including Chinnathambi be brought back and released in their home terrain (Thadagam valley).
Besides, they also wanted legal action against the constructions including Isha yoga Centre, CRPF training Centre and few more educational institutes and all the illegal brick chambers located there, thereby seriously disturbing the elephants’ migratory path.
Meanwhile, an elephant researcher suggested the plan of relocating Chinnathambi to Mudhumalai where the so-called another crop-raider ‘Vinayagan’ was released a month ago. However, confusion prevails among the forest officials about the next move.
Meanwhile, elephant expert Ajay Desai visited Chinnathambi at Udumalpet on Wednesday and observed Chinnathambi who looked so tame as a pet elephant without attacking anyone who approached him for feeding.
Talking to DC, Ajay Desai said, a decision will be taken soon following a meeting with fellow experts.
