NB Explains | Mission Arikomban : Know why Kerala govt launched opreation to capture a rogue wild elephant since 2018

A search operation was launched by Kerala government to capture Arikomban, a 30-year-old wild elephant known for storming houses and ration shops in search of rice, has ended without success.

It should be noted that the state government is trying to trace, capture and relocate the wild tusker since 2018.

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

What was Arikomban's fault?

The elephant was named Arikomban because of its habit of raiding rice shops. Ari means rice and Kombam means tusker. The rice-eating elephant had been troubling high-range villages in Kerala's Idukki district for the last five years.

After tranquilising the elephant, the forest department will put the radio collar on Arikomban and relocate it. The Kerala forest department has purchased the satellite radio collar from Assam government for Rs 5 lakh. The battery in the collar lasts for 10 years.

The Kerala government also made a detailed plan, including setting up a dummy ration shop with groceries and rice inside it to attract the jumbo to tranquilise it.

Where will Arikomban go?

The court's decision to relocate Arikomban to Parambikulam Tiger Reserve drew protest from villagers living in Parambikulam. Parambikulam has already been facing elephant menace.

The government has now considered various places as the next turf of Arikomban, including Periyar Tiger Reserve in Idukki or Agasthyarkoodam. The forest department has refused to disclose the spot as the court has given direction to maintain secrecy on the matter.