SOP soon for capture, release of wild elephants

Chief Wildlife Warden explains why an intelligent tusker should be amidst the breeding population

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department will shortly develop a standard operating procedure for the capture and release of wild elephants based on science and best practices, said Shekhar Kumar Niraj, PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden. In the proceedings on the release of Rivaldo, a tusker from Vaazhaithottam check-post of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve back into the wild, he prepared an elaborate note after visiting 28 camp elephants in two camps at MTR and interacting with mahouts and cavadies. It was decided to capture Rivaldo after demands from some sections of the public. Keeping fully adult elephants in a small kraal and attempts to train a fully matured, healthy and hefty adult elephant could at times defeat the science of elephant ecology, Mr. Niraj said.