A mission for translocating a rogue elephant, which was creating panic among the villagers for the last one year in Madukkarai forest range here, will commence, once the fourth kumki (trained elephant) joins the other three by tomorrow, forest officials said.
The district and forest department officials, with the assistance of police department, are fully geared for 'Mission Madukkarai Maharaj', to translocate the elephant by tranquilising it.
However, the elephant, which used to visit the Madukkarai area once a week, was not seen since June 8, the day the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, ordered to translocate it, bowing to pressure from public, farmers and politicians alike.
Three 'Kumkis'--Vijay, Paari and Sujay have already arrived for successful execution of the mission and the fourth one Kaleem is likely to join them early tomorrow from Anamalai Tiger Reserve area, forest department sources said.
However, officials are apprehensive about tranquilising it as there was high risk involved, including the death of the elephant by suffocation, the sources said.
Stating that once tranquilised, it will take at least 15 to 20 mintues for the pachyderm to become unconscious, they said, adding that a fall during the intervening period may cause its death.
If the elephant fell near a water pond and its trunk dipped into the water, there was all possibility of its death, as it may not be able to breathe. Similarly, suffocation may occur if the trunk got struck under its body, leading to death.
Another reason for breathlessness and death was if the jumbo fell flat on its chest.
However, the modus operandi will be decided after consultations with top district, forest and police officials, who wanted the pachyderm to be used as kumki, they said.
