Elephant Rivaldo has made significant progress in reaching natural habitats away from communities near Masinagudi in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) of the Nilgiris district, according to Elephant Monitor. The elephant was radio-collared and released into the wild on August 9 after spending nearly three months at a kraal in Vazathiottam at the Chikkala anti-poaching camp at MTR. The tusker has since been tracked using signals from radio collars.
The animal, had become habituated to humans in the Vazhaithottam area of the buffer zone of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), who had been feeding it for the last few years. It was captured and put inside a ‘kraal’ (elephant shelter), ostensibly to treat it for injuries that the Forest Department said had led to it being unable to feed inside the forests.
When Rivaldo was released back into the wild, there were many questions about his fate. Rivaldo's home range is increasing every month, according to the field director, who noted that he is now grazing in the Maavanalla and Valaithottam woodlands. Meanwhile, he said that in August the home area of ​​his natural habitat was 7.11 square kilometres. It increased to 10.12 sq km in September and October and will increase further once the northeast monsoon arrives.
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