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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister K Raju has informed the Assembly that more Kumki elephants will be trained to send back forest elephants that stray into human habitants from forests.
(Kumki is the Tamil name for captive, trained Indian elephants. These are used mostly for taming and training of newly captured wild elephants and also to lead away wild elephants that stray into human settlements.)
Eight elephants from Kottoor, Konni, Kodanad and Wayanad have been identified for this and they have been brought to Palakkad for training. At present, there are two Kumki elephants of Forest department available for service. They are currently stationed at Wayanad.
The forest department also takes Kumki elephants from Tamil Nadu for rent when situation warrants. In order to prevent the attack from wild animals the number of RRT (Tha Rapid Response Team) have also been raised to 13. More vehicle facility and guns will be provided to them.
Meanwhile, the forest department is puzzled over how to handle the rogue elephants if they are caught. They are confused over whether to release them in the forest or not. “If they are released in forest area, people in nearby habitats may protest against that,” said the minister.