Forest officials step up efforts to capture tusker

With an elephant having trampled four persons to death less than a week ago on the city's outskirts, Forest department officials are taking efforts to capture a tusker said to be moving around in human habitations at Madukkarai near here in the last two days.
The pachyderm, which appeared to be sick was spotted at Press Enclave in Kovaipudur two days ago and damaged the gate of a house and fencing and brought down branches of a mango tree, Forest officials said.
Even as the Forest department and police officials reached the spot, the elephant had made its way to another area, where it damaged some trees and pulled down a thatched shed. The animal left the place after residents burst crackers to scare it away.

Residents of Theethipalayam and Thondamuthur today complained to Forest department officials that the elephant was entering their farms and destroying crops, police said.
The department has formed a team, including anti-poaching watchers, to monitor the elephant's movements and capture it.