Elephant patrol introduced in sanctuary

 
The Forest Department has tightened security measures in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary with a view to curbing poaching of wild animals during Onam. An elephant patrol was introduced on Monday. The move for a patrol was taken at a meeting of the forest personnel of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu at Theppakkadu, headquarters of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, in Tamil Nadu on August 20, K. Radha Krishna Lal, Assistant Wildlife Warden, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, told The Hindu. "The elephant patrol will enable forest personnel to easily search the forest interior, where vehicle and foot patrols are impossible," Mr. Lal said. Three tuskers, Dineshan, Kunju and Suryan of the Muthanga Elephant Camp, will lead the team. Apart from the tuskers, an anti-poaching team comprising a forester, four forest guards, four watchers and six mahouts will be on duty. The elephant patrol starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary stretches 344 sq km.

The Hindu, 27th August 2008