Mammoth effort to capture 'killer' pachyderm at Karikaddi

By K.Jeevan Chinnappa

UMBLIBETTA (KODAGU DT.), MARCH 3. It was a "mammoth" effort to catch a mammoth. The moments preceding the capture of a "killer" pachyderm at Karikaddi in the Hampapura section of the Shanivarasante Range Forest in Kodagu, bordering Hassan, had all the ingredients of adventure. There was not an insipid moment throughout the day on February 28, at the spot where the elephant was fully immobilised.

There was commotion, anxiety, tension and excitement during the operation. The trumpeting of the captured mammoth was unnerving. Custodians of the forest, veterinary doctors, mahouts and their kavadis (and this Correspondent), waited patiently in the Karikaddi forests in the morning, facing the Hemavathi Dam backwaters, till a few local people, who were perched on top of the trees, spotted the "villain" in the company of four other elephants. The tusker is said to have killed a couple of persons recently.

Dr. Chittiappa, who has made a mark in darting elephants and immobilising them before they are shackled and taken to the camp, was on hand, while, Dr. Vishwanath readied the dart with the tranquilising drug. Next was the duty of the watcher Venkatesh, who, tree-borne, "shot" the animal at 12-47 p.m. Before the "shot," the animal was identified as the right one by a local man, Honnappa.

Soon there were shouts as tree-borne persons shouted at the group saying four elephants were heading towards them after being scared away by gun shots fired in the air. The eight "kumkis" (tamed elephants) waiting in the coffee plantations took up their position in a jiffy to confront the wild elephants if they rushed towards the crowd. However, the wild elephants headed back towards the Hemavathi backwaters. By then, the "waltzing villain" had fallen unconscious.

The access to the place where the animal fell was treacherous and difficult to reach. The "kumkis" swung into action destroying the wild growth instantly. Soon the way was clear. The roping of the fallen elephant with the help of hemp was an exciting job as the "kumkis" lifted its head with their tusks. Dr. Vishwanath from Shimoga and Dr. Alex from Kerala constantly monitored the heartbeat of the pachyderm as water was poured on it profusely to cool its rising body temperature. Dr. Chittiappa kept shouting at the mahouts to co-ordinate their actions. Small portions of the tusks of the fallen elephant were chopped off as a precaution. Exactly one hour after the "shot", the animal was up on its feet. The magnificent beast looked dazed. The shackled animal was led by the four "kumkis."

A fresh ordeal began as the captured hero refused to move, often falling on its hind legs. If it found something to lean on, it would do so. Dr. Chittiappa and his party never lost time in injecting the elephant with doses of dextrose.

The Conservator of Forests (Kodagu Circle), Mr. P.Anur Reddy, was a source of inspiration to those involved in the operations. The Deputy Conservator of Forests, Madikeri, Mr. Shekar, and the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Hassan, Mr. Shivanna, were at hand to offer their guidance.

While one "kumki" involved itself in fetching water to be showered on the captured animal, two others kept smashing the trees with their sheer power, and cleared the way. It was a tough task for the officials including Mr. Reddy, who shouted at the anxious villagers to remain at a safe distance from the elephant as they thronged the coffee plantations to have a glimpse of the beast.

Dr. Chittiappa mounted a "kumki" to position himself to inject the needle or sometimes went under the mouth of the "kumki" to pierce the needle in the thigh of the tiring elephant. To everyone's surprise, the captured mammoth did not put up a fight although it resisted for four hours all attempts to take it away. At one point, the doctors too gave up and said the elephant should be tied to a huge tree and taken to Umblibetta only on the next day.

But, something dramatic happened. As if the elephant understood the efforts of those involved in the operations, it began walking normally. The change inspired even the doctors, and the officials who had decided that it should be "walked" as long as it could in its eight-km. journey to the crawl. To everybody's elation, the giant, which had taken more than four hours to cover a distance of over two km. initially, covered the rest in just one and half hours, and reached the crawl at 8 p.m.

The President of the Coorg Wildlife Society, Air Marshal K.C.Cariappa (retd.), and its Vice-President, Mr. Pemmanda Ganapathi, who too had arrived in the morning, left early due to other pre-occupations. Among the lucky ones was Mr. Sarath, a naturalist and wildlife enthusiast.

Finally, the elephant was pushed into the crawl in a diligent manner at 10.15 p.m. Over 100 personnel were involved in the operation including more than 30 mahouts and kavadis. Despite the initial confusion things went right at the right time. The team should be complimented for its herculean effort as the animal was drawn along with least number of injuries.

Mr. Anur Reddy told this Correspondent on Thursday that the elephant was doing well and gradually getting used to the new surroundings. It had accepted food and water. The whole exercise was no mean task. The Forest Department personnel had pitched tents, 10 days ago for the operation. When the entire process was completed, it was expected to cost the department over Rs. four lakhs.

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