Kerala High Court Orders Capture, Radio-Collaring & Relocation Of Rogue Elephant 'Arikomban' To Parambikulam Tiger Reserve

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday ordered that the rogue elephant, 'Arikomban', which had been wreaking havoc in human settlements in Chinnakkanal and Santhanpara Panchayaths in the Idukki District, ought to be captured, radio-collared and relocated to the Muthuvarachal/Orukomban within the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. The Division Bench comprising Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Gopinath P. issued the above order after perusing the report filed by the Committee of Experts that had been constituted by it to advise the Court on matters pertaining to Human-Elephant conflict situations arising in the State. "Having considered the report of the Committee and having heard the counsel appearing for the various parties in this writ petition including parties who sought to get themselves impleaded in the writ petition as also the learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the State of Kerala, we are of the opinion that the Committee has considered all the relevant aspects and has come to the conclusion that the best possible way to deal with the present situation is only to capture, radio-collar and translocate the animal to the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. We are convinced that this is the best option, despite the submission of the learned Additional Advocate General that it is for the Chief Wildlife Warden to take a final decision as to whether the elephant has to be translocated or kept in captivity," the Court observed in its Order. The elephant had allegedly been foraging into the Chinnakanal area, and causing damage to the property in the human settlement areas. Vide its order dated March 25, 2023, the Court had directed the Forest and Wildlife Department to refrain from capturing the tusker.Report of Committee of Experts (CoE)The CoE in its report submitted before the High Court today, had considered two options, namely: 1. the capture, collaring, and release of the animal; and 2. capture, collaring, and translocation of the animal. Upon assessing the merits and demerits attached with each option, the Committee was of the opinion that the second option was the most appropriate one under the circumstances. It suggested the translocation of the tusker to Muthuvarachal/Orukomban falling within the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, on the basis of the following factors: i. that the location is part of a larger landscape with plentiful food, water, and natural resources for the survival of the animal; ii. that the site of relocation may gradually shape the animal's behaviour, making it less likely to seek anthropogenic resources over time; and iii. that the site is most likely to avoid any human-wildlife conflicts. The Committee was of the opinion that although the elephant was in 'Musth', tranquillizing it, radio-collaring it and translocating it to the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve would not cause any harm to the animal.The Court noted that the committee had been appointed in the first place, taking note of the peculiar circumstances of the case. The Court was of the view that since the experts in the field were part of the CoE that had given its opinion, it would be most appropriate to defer to the opinion of the CoE. District Collectors to Supervise Translocation of ArikombanThe Additional Advocate General today assured the Court that the Officials and Departments of the State Government would offer necessary assistance for the safe translocation of the animal to the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. The said assurance was given pursuant to the point raised by the Amicus Curiae, Senior Advocate Ramesh Babu that the translocation of the elephant would require active participation of various Government Departments, particularly, the Revenue, Forest, Police, Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Departments, and the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB). The District Collectors of Ernakulam and Idukki were directed by the Court to personally supervise the translocation of the animal while the convoy passed through their Districts. The District Police Chiefs/Rural District Police Chiefs, through whose jurisdictions the convoy would pass were directed to ensure safe passage of the animal to the location. The Court also directed the Chief Engineer (Distribution) of KSEB to issue necessary instructions to the Officers concerned in the route of the convoy to ensure that electric supply would be suspended for the appropriate time upon request, in order to ensure that the elephant would not be harmed by the overhanging cables in the area. The Court clarified that the Chief Conservator of Forests (High Range Circle), Kottayam, Arun R.S.; Chief Conservator of Forests & Field Director, Project Tiger, Kottayam, Pramod P.P; and the Chief Forest Veternary Officer, Dr. Arun Sakharia, would be in overall control of the capture and shifting of the elephant, and further directed that they also ought to personally accompany the animal while it was being shifted from Idukki to Parambikulam Tiger Reserve.Importantly, the Court...

Kerala High Court Orders Capture, Radio-Collaring & Relocation Of Rogue Elephant 'Arikomban' To Parambikulam Tiger Reserve

Navya Benny

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