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Coimbatore
Forest dept drives elephants back into reserve after 36-hour struggle
January 8, 2017
It was a 36-hour struggle for both the elephants and members of the Coimbatore Division of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, as the five elephants that ventured out of the reserve camped at peace inside the Perur Chettipalayam Lake.
The elephants, comprising a tusker, three adults and two calves, that came out of the reserve from Madukkarai range, settled at the lake early morning on Saturday after feasting on maize, sugarcane and coconut in the farms nearby.
Once they reached the area of the lake which has thick undergrowth, the elephants decided to take a nap inside the heart of the lake, more than five kms away from the reserve.
However, with the increasing crowd that came to see the elephants and kept moving close leaving the animals restless, it was difficult for the officials to keep the animals intact.
According to officials from the Forest Department, a strategy was planned to drive the animals back inside the reserve as the animals moved only in the direction they preferred.
“It would not be advisable to drive them in the direction they do not prefer as it would have repercussions,” said an official.
District Forest Officer S Ramasubramaniam visited the spot and plans were made to drive them after sunlight.
Initially, the animals moved close to the Siruvani Main Road by late evening, but went back inside Patta Land once again after a huge crowd gathered. However, the animals were chased back inside the Madukkarai range via Pachapalayam early on Sunday with the help of Anti-Poaching Watchers and crackers.
