Kochi: The Kerala Government has spent Rs 17.32 lakh on the Forest Department's extensive operation to capture and tranquillize the wild tusker PT-7 in Dhoni, Palakkad. Simultaneously, the govenment incurred Rs 15.85 lakh on a similar mission to capture the wild tusker Arikomban from Chinnakkanal and subsequently relocating it to the Thekkady forest zone.  

Responding to an RTI query from M.K. Haridas, President of Proper Channel, the Forest Department revealed that the state has spent a total of Rs 33 lakh on these missions. 

Presently, PT-7 is kept in confinement at Dhoni as part of the Forest Department's efforts to train the tusker to be a Kumki. The department rented trucks for Rs 5.18 lakh for moving the tusker to the confinement. Furthermore, the department spent Rs 1.73 lakh on eucalyptus trees for constructing the confinement. 

Meanwhile, Rs 87,320 was spent on the repair works of the Radio Collar used on Arikomban. Further, an advance of Rs 1 lakh was paid for the Rapid Action Force during the mission. 

Initially, the plan was to shift Arikomban to confinement in Kodanad Elephant Training Centre. For this, Rs 1.84 lakh was spent to procure eucalyptus trees.