Two jumbos from Vandalur reach Anaimalai, Mudhumalai reserves

The two elephants, Urigam and Giri, reached their new habitat on Saturday night after a long and arduous journey from the Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur. Forest Department staff said Urigam, which was abandoned by its mother, was rescued in the forest area of Urigam in Hosur. Similarly, Giri was rescued from Jawalagiri in Krishnagiri forests, where it was found abandoned. 

“The animal was named Urigam because of its place of origin. Now, the elephant is aged nine, while Giri is eight-and-a-half-years-old,” said a Forest Department staff. 

Both the elephants started their journey in separate trucks from the zoo in Chennai on Friday night. “When Urigam reached Sethumadai check post during the hot afternoon, the animal cooled off after water was poured on it. It was also given a short break. After performing a ‘puja’ at a temple there, the animal continued its journey to Top Slip,” said the staffer. 

With the addition of Urigam, which weighs around 2.5 tonnes, the number of camp elephants in the ATR has now reached 25. Mahouts, who accompanied both the elephants, will be staying at the ATR and MTR to train them. 

“Both the elephants will enjoy their new place of stay. They were growing up seeing a heavy influx of visitors at the zoo, but in the camps, they will be living in a more natural ambience,” said a staff.

The Forest Department is likely to train both the jumbos as kumkis. 

Earlier, elephants Paari, 37, and Sujay, 48, which were at the Chadivayal camp, retired. Paari and Sujay didn’t bond well and as they were incompatible, operations to drive away wild tuskers proved to be difficult. Their lack of co-ordination also resulted in them suffering injuries in wild elephant attacks.