Athirappilly: The mission to treat the tusker with a head injury is progressing toward success. After being tranquilized, there were concerns about the elephant's health as it had collapsed. However, with the help of the kumki elephants, it was lifted and loaded into a vehicle, which allowed for swift progress. The next phase involves relocating the elephant to the Abhayaranyam Elephant Training Centre at Kodanadu, Kaprikad Wildlife Sanctuary. A shelter for the elephant, where it will receive treatment, was completed at the sanctuary yesterday.

Following the tranquilization, the head wound on the elephant was cleaned under the supervision of Dr. Arun Sakaria. The wound was swollen at the time. Three kumki elephants—Konni Surendran, Kunju, and Vikram—were brought in to assist in bringing the elephant down.

The tusker was found injured on January 15 in a plantation estate with a head injury. Realizing the injury was severe, it was tranquilized on the 24th, treated, and then released. However, when the wound showed signs of swelling, concerns about the elephant’s health arose. It was then decided to house the elephant in a temporary enclosure until it fully recovers.

The elephant had walked into a river near Vettilappara. When it moved towards the island, it was tranquilized. Earlier, another tusker, named Ezhamuttam Ganapathi, who had been with the injured elephant, was scared off by gunshots. After the gunshots, the tranquilizer was used on the injured tusker.