Kumki elephant from Chandaka to help tranquilise tigress Sundari

Angul: A kumki (trained) elephant ‘Yashoda’ from Chandaka Godibari forest along with four mahouts will help the Forest department to tranquilise tigress 'Sundari', which had been out of reach despite several attempts. The operation to capture the big cat will resume today.

As per latest reports, 'Yashoda' accompanied by four mahouts and officials of the Forest department have reached Purunakote division in Angul district and is likely to reach Satkosia forest range later in the day today.

The Forest department is also planning to bring two other kumki elephants from Karnataka.

After talks to bring a trained elephant from Similipal Sanctuary to catch tigress 'Sundari' failed due to some unknown reasons, the Forest officials are in touch with their Karnataka counterparts to bring kumki elephants.

Besides, two expert teams from Madhya Pradesh have already arrived in the forest to tranquilize the tigress.

It is pertinent to mention that Sundari, the Royal Bengal tigress brought from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in June, was released into the Satkosia Tiger Reserve in August as part of the tiger relocation project.

But after the tigress allegedly killed two persons and a bullock in separate incidents in Baghamunda and Tainsi villages inside the tiger reserve last month triggering tension in the area, the State government has decided to capture the big cat and release it into Nandankanan Zoo in Bhubaneswar.