K.Muralidharan Pillai
Mayabunder, Aug 06: A special team from Periyar Tiger Reserve, Tekkadi, Kerala consisting Dr. Sasindra Dev and his assistant Mr. Arul Kumar was brought to these Islands by the PCCF, ANI, to monitor and control the ‘Musth’ Elephant, Sanjeev Prasad.
Dr. Sasindra Dev was present with the search team with Darts Gun when Sanjeev Prasad was killed but he couldn’t do anything as everything happened very fast. Before he could understand anything bullets were shot.
After death of ‘Sanjeev Prasad’, Andaman Sheekha spoke to the team to know more about the entire development. Talking to Andaman Sheekha Dr. Dev said that ‘Musth’ of an elephant is a natural phenomenon and it may last upto 90 days and thereafter the condition automatically becomes normal.
He further said that firing on ‘Musth’ elephant or air fire is not the remedy. In case of attack firing should be done towards the earth with point range to create vibration, which can be easily analyzed and felt by the elephant and it will remain calm.
This clearly shows that if the officers and staffs in the search team would have taken proper measures the shameful encounter could have been averted and the said elephant aged 28 years only, could have live for another 30 to 40 years.
The symptoms of ‘Musth’ elephant is usually first recognized by the Mahouts who remains attached to the Elephant for a long time, he said.
“It is the nature of elephants or any animal that if the caretaker provides edible items like jiggery, banana, tamarind, Paddy etc. in regular basis on a particular time, the animal will surely respond to him like a child obeying his parents,” Dr. Dev said.
He said that the ‘Musth’ elephants must be tied up immediately and arrangements should be made to stall feeding. If trained officer is not available while chasing the elephant or passing through the road between the deep forests, it is advisable not to use the blinking lights.
Dr. Dev said that the ‘Musth’ elephant “MAKANA” (without tusks) is more powerful than the ‘Musth’ elephant “TUSKER” (with Tusks) since elephant “SANJEEV PRASAD” was a ‘Makana’ he was very powerful. It is also advisable that while chasing the rogue elephant, the chaser must be very courageous and must have a very strong will power. It is suggested that shooting is not permissible on legs of elephant, which may make situation further worst.
Even experts believe that the way this elephant was tackled was probably not the best way. Had the Jawans briefed well they would have fired toward earth to scare away the elephant, which would have given some time to the team to fire Darts for Tranquilizing the animal.
Sir,
when i was a kid, i witnessed a musth elephant at panchavati,we ran for our life,during wee hours reached Betapur in a Forest Dept.truck.Later came to know that a brave Karen Forest Official put a trap below the leg of the elephant and it stayed in the jungle .I don’t know the courageous man.But we slept peacefully.
Subbiah
http://www.andamansikkim.blogspot.in