Rehabilitated camp elephant that was to be “shot dead” dies in Theppakadu due to old age

Representational file image. | Photo Credit: M. Sathyamoorthy

One of the Theppakadu Elephant Camp’s most remarkable success stories, that of the rehabilitation of ‘Moorthy’, a makhna (tuskless male) elephant believed to have killed 23 people in Kerala before his capture in 1998, came to an end on Saturday, after the elephant died at the camp in the late evening.

Moorthy, who was also known as a reliable “kumki” elephant in operations against wild elephants, retired in 2022 and spent the year in retirement, being treated for age-related illnesses. Believed to be around 60 years, Moorthy is said to have killed 23 people during negative human-elephant interactions in Kerala, and was to be shot and killed by the Kerala forest department.

In pictures | Farewell to elephant ‘Moorthy’, Theppakadu’s success story in rehabilitation

Makhna “Moorthy” elephant with Kirumaran Mahout. He took care of Moorthy, until Moorthy’s death.

Forest veterinarian Dr. Krishnamoorthy seen with makhna “Moorthy” elephant in 1998 at the Theppakadu elephant camp. The elephant was named after Dr. Krishnamoorthy, who treated him.

Maneka Gandhi, then Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment visited Moorthy in 1998.

Moorthy was captured on July 12, 1998 at Gudalur in the Kerala border.

Moorthy was set to be shot dead by the Kerala forest department, but fortunately ventured into the forests of Tamil Nadu.

Moorthy came to be a favourite among the kids at the Theppakadu elephant camp. He was the most dependable and docile elephant in the camp.

After years of service, Moorthy was retired in 2022.

Upon his retirement, Moorthy was given a fitting farewell at the Theppakadu elephant camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.

Kirumaran, the mahout who had been taking care of Moorthy, paying his last respects at the Theppakadu elephant camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.

Vidya, Deputy Director of the Mudumalai tiger reserve, along with the forest staff paying last respects to Moorthy at Theppakadu elephant camp

Family members of Kirumaran, and others paying their last respects to Moorthy.

‘The Hindu’ photographer M. Sathyamoorthy with the elephant in 1998. It is a 25-year of bond for him who has been covering the life of elephant ‘Moorthy’ since then.

Riddled with bullet injuries all over his legs, Moorthy — who died of age-related conditions at around 9 p.m on October 14 — bore the marks of his run-ins with human communities all his life.

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In a rather fortunate turn of events for the elephant, he ventured into the forests of Tamil Nadu, where he was captured and brought to the Theppakadu Elephant Camp. He is said to have even killed two more persons once he ventured into the Gudalur forest division while fleeing from Kerala.

| Video Credit: M. Sathyamoorthy

Riddled with bullet marks all over his legs, the elephant bore the marks of his run-ins with human communities all his life, as farmers looking to protect their crops would fire live rounds at him, possibly leading to his aggressiveness towards humans.

He was named after a forest veterinarian, Krishnamoorthy, who not only sedated and captured Moorthy but also treated the elephant for his injuries after he was brought to Theppakadu. In a statement, Field Director of MTR, D. Venkatesh, said that following the elephant’s capture, it was tamed and quickly became one of the most docile and dependable elephants at the camp, assisting the forest department in multiple operations to mitigate negative human-elephant interactions.

“For the past one year, the elephant’s condition had deteriorated due to old age and was being treated. However, we are very saddened to inform that Moorthy died of age-related conditions at around 9 p.m on Saturday,” said Mr. Venkatesh.

Published - October 15, 2023 12:53 am IST