Forest dept. begins process to tranquilise and capture rogue jumbo

The Forest department has initiated preliminary steps to capture the rogue Makhna elephant, KM-1 (Kannur Makhna), which has been reportedly responsible for repeated attacks on people and extensive crop and property damage in Aralam farm and the TRDM rehabilitation areas.The action follows an order issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden. A special preparatory meeting chaired by B.N. Anjankumar, Chief Conservator of Forests, North Circle, was held to coordinate the operation and assess preparedness. The meeting decided to constitute a special advisory committee to oversee the chemical immobilisation of the elephant in accordance with the Central government’s recommended standard operating procedure.Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) K. Saji told The Hindu that a field operating team comprising exp