Keralam Forest dept begins operation to tranquillise, capture elephant ‘KM-1’ at Aralam

The Keralam Forest department has begun the operation to tranquillise and capture KM-1, the male elephant that entered the Aralam Rehabilitation Area, on Wednesday, with the animal being driven towards a designated 18-acre area. A prohibitory order has also been imposed in parts of Aralam, barring public gatherings during the operation.

Division Forest Officer K. Saji said a team comprising 100 forest personnel had been deployed for the operation. The team includes a darting unit, two veterinarians, a conservation biologist and a supporting team, which has been fully deployed at the operation site and is prepared to undertake darting, if required, depending on the situation.

As part of the operation, the driving team spotted KM-1 in the Block 10 Jalnidhi area of Aralam farm in the morning. Efforts are currently underway to drive it towards the designated 18-acre area.

The tracking team had been operating in the Odachal area to locate and spot the elephant, where it had been staying. However, the presence of dense grassland in the vicinity of the elephant prevented the tracking team from approaching it directly.

The tracking operation was temporarily halted for a short period in the afternoon and, following a tea break, the tracking team resumed efforts from the Kottappara-Pulinchod area to locate and spot the elephant.

Meanwhile, as part of the operation to tranquillise and capture KM-1, District Collector P. Vishnuraj has imposed a prohibitory order under Section 163(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in wards 6 and 7 of Aralam panchayat and Blocks 7, 9, 10 and 13 of Aralam farm. Under the order, members of the public are prohibited from assembling or gathering in these areas.