Elephant Arikomban Relocation: Govt Will Act In Accordance With Court Verdicts, Says Kerala Forest Minister

Elephant Arikomban Relocation: Kerala Forest Minister AK Saseendran said that directions have already been given to the wildlife officials to find out a suitable place and report the same. 

Kerala Forest Minister AK Saseendran said that a new location should be identified.

On the relocation of the rouge elephant 'Arikomban', the Kerala government on Tuesday clarified that it will act in accordance with the verdicts of the judiciary. The state government also said that it will soon find a suitable location to relocate the elephant. 

Addressing reporters on Tuesday, Forest Minister A K Saseendran said that the wildlife officials have been asked to find out a new place for relocating the tusker and submit a report in this regard. 

Saseendran, as per PTI, said, "As a government, we have the responsibility to act in accordance with the verdicts of the judiciary. The government will not backtrack from that responsibility. A new location should be identified. Directions have already been given to the wildlife officials to find out a suitable place and report the same." 

If they submit the report by tomorrow (Wednesday), it would be examined thoroughly and after informing the High Court further action would be taken, he said, adding that the issue cannot be prolonged indefinitely.

The Forest Minister made the statement after Supreme Court refused to permit the appeal of Kerala government against HC order directing the state to translocate the tusker to Parambikulam tiger reserve in Palakkad. 

The Apex Court also held that the HC has given a "reasoned" order based on the views of the expert committee.

However, Kerala government reportedly wanted to send the tusker to a training centre since the elephant killed 7 people and destroyed crops and homes, as per the report.

On Monday, the SC bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala while hearing the case after taking note of the urgent mention of the appeal dismissed the appeal by the state government. 

On April 12, the HC also refused to review its decision to translocate the tusker to Parambikulam tiger reserve.