Mission Arikomban: An Overview

• Arikomban, known as the “rice tusker,” was spotted a month ago in the Periyakanal plantations in the district of Idukki.
• The Kerala High Court directed the state government to relocate the tusker to a forested area distant from human dwellings within a week. If no such area could be found, the tusker would have to be translocated to Parambikulam.
• The Kerala government attempted to contest this order in the Supreme Court but was unsuccessful.
• Recently, the High Court ordered the state to give its suggestions for alternative relocation sites to a court-appointed expert committee that had formerly recommended Arikomban's translocation. These suggestions were to be provided in a sealed cover.

Insights from the High Court

• The court dismissed the local population's fears about having the translocated elephant in their vicinity, asserting that they do not have the authority to dictate the types of animals that should inhabit the tiger reserve.
• The court expressed disappointment at the neglect of the elephant's welfare and shock at the lack of empathy shown towards the creature.
• The court suggested that the availability of natural resources for food and water in the reserve would discourage Arikomban from venturing into human settlements.
• Wildlife officials will keep track of the elephant's movements by radio-collaring it. There is no suggestion that Arikomban would display any hostile behavior towards humans.

Points of Debate

• Natural food: Historical data indicate that even in the presence of “natural food,” elephants may still raid cultivated crops.
• Radio collar: The constant use of a radio collar drains its battery quickly, necessitating frequent collar changes. This allows for only an hourly location update, which is enough time for a male elephant to wander unpredictably within a 5-10 km radius.
• It has been noticed that relocating problematic elephants simply moves the conflict elsewhere.
• Research has shown that translocation can lead to a wider spread and intensification of human-elephant conflict, as well as increased elephant mortality.

Potential Outcomes and Lessons Learned

• Lessons learned:
  • Female and young male elephants form groups, while adult males are typically solitary, except for “boy clubs” with less mature bulls.
  • Adult males are more prone to raid crops and can become aggressive, but only a small number actually attack humans.
  • When a few problematic elephants cause issues for local communities, it can affect the overall goodwill towards the entire species.
• High Court-appointed expert committee:
  • The committee suggested moving the problematic male elephant to Parambikulam Tiger Reserve to decrease human-wildlife conflict and gradually alter its behavior.
• In situations where the safety of both humans and the animal are at risk, relying solely on predictions may not suffice. Lessons learned from past instances should be considered to ensure the safety of all parties involved.