Translocated By Kerala, Rice-Raiding Tusker Arikomban Enters Tamil Nadu's Cumbum Town, Runs Amok

Panic gripped the residents of Cumbum Town of Theni District in Tamil Nadu on Saturday after a wild elephant that is blamed for nearly a dozen human deaths in neighbouring Kerala ventured into its streets.

The tusker, popularly called Arikomban (rice tusker) in Kerala for its love for ration rice, was seen running amok across many streets on Saturday morning in visuals shot by locals.

SCREENGRAB

In some of the videos, Arikomban can be seen coming dangerously close to people on the road.

Was translocated a month ago

The rogue elephant, which spread panic in its original habitat in Chinnakanal near Munnar in Kerala, frequently raided and destroyed houses and shops in search of rice and was captured and relocated to the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady, close to the Tamil Nadu border, in April on the order of the Kerala High Court.

BCCL

However, just days after its translocation, the radio-collared tusker ventured into the Tamil Nadu side and was seen in the hill station of Meghamalai, forcing authorities to suspend tourist entry there.

After nearly a week in Meghamalai, Arikomban had returned to Periyar Tiger Reserve, and earlier this week, it tried to enter human settlements near Kumily town in Kerala twice, which is around 85 kilometres away from Chinnakkanal.

Authorities issue caution

After being chased back to the wild by the Kerala Forest Department, to the shock of the authorities, Arikomban crossed the border again and, this time ventured into Cumbum, a border town with a large population, vast farmlands and industries.

SCREENGRAB

As panic spread in Cumbum on Saturday, Tamil Nadu police have asked residents to be cautious.

There are also reports that the Tamil Nadu government has decided to deploy kumki elephants and if needed, tranquilise the rogue elephant.

BCCL

Capture of Arikomban

Arikomban was one of the several rogue tuskers that were creating trouble for people in Idukki, which has one of the highest densities of wild elephant populations in Kerala and cases of human-elephant conflict in the state.

After months-long protests by locals in Chinnakanal, the Kerala government ordered its capture earlier this year.

However, a group of animal lovers challenged this order in the Kerala High Court, which ruled that Arikomban should not be kept in captivity but should be captured, radio-collared and released in a different location where chances of human-elephant conflict will be less.

Based on this, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in Palakkad district was originally chosen for Arikomban, but it was later changed to Periyar Tiger Reserve in Idukki itself due to protests from those living near Parambikulam.

BCCL

After a marathon hunt, Arikomban was finally captured by the Kerala Forest Department following an operation that lasted nearly a day.

Killer elephant Arikomban has fans association

As crazy as it might sound, the killer elephant has a fanbase in Kerala.

Any number of Arikomban fans on social media claim to be campaigning to bring it back to Chinnakkanal, where it killed at least 11 people.

One such group even reportedly raised over Rs 7 lakhs in funds from its members claiming to fight legal cases to bring Arikomban back before the WhatsApp group admin allegedly disappeared with the money.

For more on news, sports and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.