Kannur (Kerala), Jul 26 (PTI) The Kerala government has ordered capture of a wild elephant, which has been causing trouble in the Aralam Farm area here, by tranquilising it and then releasing it deep into the forest away from human settlements after fitting it with a radio collar.
Kerala Environment Minister Sunny Joseph said that the government took the decision as the elephant, KM1, has been entering the farm area and terrorising nearby rehabilitation colony for some time.
The minister said that the Chief Wildlife Warden had granted permission for transquilising and capturing the jumbo after the importance of doing so was brought to the attention of the Forest Minister.
KM1 has been regularly entering the human settlements in the Aralam Farm area and causing damage, he said.
He further said that the mission will be carried out in accordance with all the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
The radio collar will be fitted in a manner that does not cause excessive stress to the jumbo and its movements will be monitored continuously, the minister said.
The government took the decision following a Forest Department report which said that KM1 was regularly entering the residential area by breaking various defense systems installed on the forest boundary, and caused extensive damage to houses, vehicles and farmlands without any provocation, Joseph said.
According to the report, it is the largest elephant in the herd that has been descending on the Aralam region since 2008 and is suspected to have killed a man — Aneesh — on February 27 in the Aralam area, the minister said. PTI HMP KH
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