The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘Operation Gajendra’ changes tack

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Thursday, Nov 01, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘Operation Gajendra’ changes tack

Special Correspondent

SRIKAKULAM: The letter written by Orissa Chief Minister Navin Patnaik to his counterpart in Andhra Pradesh, expressing objection to ‘Operation Gajendra’ notwithstanding, officials of the Forest Department, on Wednesday, continued their efforts to drive away the herd of seven rogue elephants.

However, they changed their strategy. They were driving the elephants away on a selected land track (with minor deviations as and when required) by making use of a ‘hullah’ team of 21 members from West Bengal. Besides this team, half-a-dozen trackers and local staff were deployed. Officials also said tranquilisers would not be used anymore.

Vizianagaram correspondent adds: Three of the four wild elephants that were chained after administering sedatives during the last couple of days were released into the forest today. The fourth one could not be freed as the staff faced difficulty in removing the chain from its leg, said DFO B.V. Ramana Babu.

The decision was taken following widespread criticism from the Orissa Government and other quarters, over improper handling of the pachyderms. One of the two elephants that was transported to Lakheri Wildlife Sanctuary in Gajapathi district in Orissa by truck died reportedly due to exhaustion and overdose of tranquilisers.

However, Mr. Ramana Babu said that the decision to free the elephants was taken following damage to ‘kutcha’ link road due to rain during the last two of days. The road was laid especially to transport the tuskers by trucks to the sanctuary. Moreover, the response from Orissa officials to the shifting was lukewarm.

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