CHENNAI: The forest department of Tamil Nadu today, June 5,captured the elusive rogue elephant 'Arikomban' near Usilampatti town in Theni district.

The elephant was relocated to the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) on April 29 after being apprehended by the Kerala Forest Department in Chinnakanal, Idukki district. A security guard died after the elephant struck his scooter a week ago when the tusker entered Cumbum town.

The elephant was captured early today morning after it reached a banana farm near Usilampatti A 75-member forest team was on vigil for the past few days and three 'Kumki' elephants and veterinarians were in the team of forest officials.

The forest agency also sent out a five-person tribal group last week that is skilled at finding elephants. Sources said that two rounds of tranquilisers were fired on 'Arikomban' and it was captured using the support of three 'Kumki' elephants.

Mission Arikomban was launched by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department on May 27 after it caused alarm among residents of Cumbum. After then, Cumbum municipality was subject to prohibitory orders from the district administration. However, Arikomban withdrew farther into the forest, making it impossible for the task group to complete the operation.

Arikomban was relocated from Idukki's Chinnakanal after a High Court order in Kerala. It was on April 29, the Kerala Forest Department translocated Arikomban to the Periyar tiger reserve which is located 105 km away from Idukki' Chinnakanal. But it continued to travel from the spot where it was released and covered kilometres of distance to reach Tamil Nadu's Cumbum. It is hinted that the elephant may return to Chinnakanal if it crosses the Mathikettan Shola area.

With one 'Arikomban' removed, another one takes over at Idukki

Big crisis looms over Uttarakhand's reserve forest, 12 tiger deaths since January