Tamil Nadu Forest Dept Dismisses Reports Of Arikomban's Demise, Says 'Tusker Healthy'

The statement highlighted that tusker 'Arikomban' is under constant surveillance via signals emitted from the radio collar affixed to it.

'Arikomban', the tusker known for his love for rice and frequent raids into ration shops in the Chinnakanal area of Idukki district ( Image Source :Pixabay )

Tamil Nadu Forest Department rubbished certain social media reports alleging the death of the wild tusker 'Arikomban' on Monday. The department said that the elephant, initially captured from the forest area of Idukki and translocated to the Cumbum area of the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) in Tirunelveli in June 2023, remains in good health.

A.S. Marimuthu, the Conservator of Forests and Field Director of KMTR, rebuffed social media claims regarding Arikomban's demise, denouncing them as "malicious and false."

In a statement issued on Monday, the Conservator of Forests clarified that the tusker was released into KMTR and has shown signs of adapting well to the Upper Kodayar dam area.

Furthermore, the statement said that Arikomban has been spotted distanced from human settlements, suggesting a potential shift in behavior from crop-raiding to natural foraging in the wilderness, according to a report on IANS.

The statement highlighted that the movement of the tusker is under constant surveillance via signals emitted from the radio collar affixed to it.

'Arikomban', the tusker known for his love for rice and frequent raids into ration shops in the Chinnakanal area of Idukki district, was tranquilised and relocated from Chinnakanal in April of last year. From there, he was translocated to the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Subsequently, 'Arikomban' began to cause havoc in residential areas of Theni, leading to the unfortunate demise of a resident in Cumbum. In response, he was relocated to the vicinity of the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai forest range in June of the same year.

Last year, Supriya Sahu, Addl Chief Secretary Environment Climate Change and Forest, TN said, "Cleans the grass well in tranquil waters before eating. Looks like soaking in the calm and beauty of his new home which we pray should be forever. Time will tell #Arikomban #TNForest #elephants."