Kerala: Mission To Capture Rogue Elephant Arikomban Unsucessful; Forest Department To Resume Search Next Day

A mission to capture 'Arikomban', a 30-year-old wild elephant in the Idukki district, known for storming houses and ration shops in search of rice, ended without success this morning (28 April).

The elephant was named so because of its love for rice. While 'Ari' means rice, 'Komban' means an elephant with tusks.

A team of around 150 officials from various state departments have been tasked with tranquilising, radio-collaring and relocating the elephant.

Officials who were involved in the search today (28 April), said that while they were able to spot many other elephants in the area, they may not have been able to spot Arikomban because it might have been sleeping.

The operation is set to resume early in the morning tomorrow (29 April).

The Forest Department has a week to decide where it would be relocated.

Locations proposed previously like the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve had to be dropped due to opposition from locals.

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