ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

Research project halted after tranquillised elephant's death

D Jose in Thiruvanathapuram

A research project on elephants at the Sultan Bathery wildlife sanctuary in the Wynad district of Kerala has ended following the death of a tranquillised elephant.

The Kerala chief conservator of forests asked the team of scientists from the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, to halt their research after a female elephant at the Muthunga range of the sanctuary died after being tranquillised.

According to reports reaching the forest headquarters at Thiruvananthapuram, the scientists fired a tranquilliser dart at the elephant. The disoriented animal hit her head against a tree stump and fell down.

The scientists fitted a radio collar that would help locate the animal later and watched the elephant recover from the effects of the tranquilliser. Seeing the animal in discomfort, the scientists tried to administer revival shots. But this only caused her to flail her legs. Tame elephants were brought in to help the animal, but it suddenly collapsed and died.

Wildlife warden Murali said the post-mortem report had revealed a blood clot in the animal's brain. He acribed it to brain damage suffered when the elephant hit the tree stump. The researchers noted that the elephant's head twisted unnaturally after it fell. The dart was fired by a member of the research team who has successfully conducted similar operations before.

The warden said experts like Dr Jacob Cherian of the Veterinary College, Mannutthy, and Dr Krishnamurthy from Tamil Nadu headed the project that was established to find out why wild elephants raided crops.

A member of the research team said it was unfortunate that the authorities called off the project that could have thrown light about the behaviour of wild elephants. Forest officials said they were not against the project and may allow it to resume after investigating all aspects of the case.

Tell us what you think of this report