Wild elephant captured in Chittoor district after month-long operation

Palamaneru (Andhra Pradesh), July 16 (PTI) A solitary wild elephant that had been damaging crops and terrorising villagers here was successfully captured after a month-long operation involving advanced drones, thermal sensor cameras, five 'kumki' elephants, veterinary experts and forest personnel, officials said on Thursday. The male elephant, estimated to be around 18 years old, had repeatedly entered human habitations, damaging crops and posing a threat to public safety, prompting the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department to launch a special operation to capture it. "After more than a month of intensive efforts involving forest personnel, veterinary experts, drones, thermal cameras and five kumki elephants, the rogue wild elephant near Palamaneru in Chittoor district has been successfully captured," said a press release on Thursday. According to officials, field-level forest personnel tracked the elephant's movements for more than a month with the help of trackers, advanced drones and thermal sensor cameras after observing changes in its behaviour following earlier encounters with forest staff. The elephant was eventually captured on Wednesday near a national highway in the same forest section where it had earlier attacked and seriously injured Palamaneru Forest Division Forest Section Officer Sukumar during an attempt to drive it away. Sukumar, who recovered from his injuries, also took part in the final operation, in which five kumki elephants brought from the Musalamadugu camp played a key role in capturing the animal. The operation was carried out under the supervision of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) in accordance with wildlife management protocols. Conservator of Forests, Anantapur Circle, Yashoda Bai, personally monitored the operation and guided the field teams throughout the exercise, officials said. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister and Forests and Environment Minister Pawan Kalyan congratulated the team on the breakthrough. Kalyan also praised Sukumar's courage and determination in participating in the operation after recovering from injuries sustained in the earlier elephant attack and commended the department for balancing public safety with wildlife conservation. Following the Deputy Chief Minister's directions, the captured elephant was shifted to the Musalamadugu kumki camp for veterinary examinations and behavioural assessment before a decision is taken on its future. Kalyan suggested exploring the possibility of training the elephant as a kumki if it displays a positive attitude towards human interaction after the observation period, officials added. PTI MS ROH