Wild elephant nicknamed ‘Rolex’ captured near Coimbatore in early morning operation

The Forest Department captured a antheral chaotic elephant, called by immoderate locals arsenic ‘Rolex’, astatine Ichukkuzhi adjacent Thondamuthur successful Coimbatore territory aboriginal connected Friday (October 17, 2025).

The tusker that is believed to person killed astatine slightest 4 persons successful the past respective months was taken to the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), wherever it volition beryllium lodged successful a kraal (wooden enclosure) astatine Varagaliar elephant camp.

Forest Department teams from Coimbatore and Boluvampatti wood ranges had been aft the tusker since September 5, aft Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra ordered its capture. Farmers and villagers from the portion had besides been demanding its translocation.

Capture efforts

Additional Director (retd) of Veterinary Services N.S. Manoharan and Forest Veterinary Officer E. Vijayaraghavan from the Anamalai Tiger Reserve attempted to tranquillise the tusker archetypal successful the aboriginal hours of September 17. The elephant, however, gave them the gaffe and moved wrong the forest.

The efforts to seizure the elephant came to a halt aft it attacked Dr. Vijayaraghavan astatine Kempanur adjacent Thondamuthur aboriginal connected September 20. The cognition resumed connected October 12. Four kumkis (trained elephants) — Chinnathambi, Kapildev, Wasim, and Bomman — were stationed astatine Kempanur for the operation.

According to D. Venkatesh, Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director of ATR, the tusker aged astir 40 has been precise delicate to airy and sound. The elephant ventured into cultivation fields lone astatine nighttime and it retracted to the wood upon confronting thing unusual.

A dedicated squad monitored the elephant for 25 days and mapped its routes earlier Friday’s operation. A squad of veterinarians comprising N. Kalaivanan, K. Rajesh Kumar, S. Vennila, and Muthuramalingam tranquillised the tusker astir 2 a.m. connected Friday. Kumkis Kapildev, Wasim, and Bomman were utilized to restrain the tusker erstwhile Forest Department mahouts tied ropes astir its cervix and legs. The elephant was loaded onto a modified motortruck and was taken to Varagaliar astir 8 a.m.

District Forest Officer N. Jayaraj and Forest Range Offices K. Jayachandran and V. Thirumurugan supervised the operation.

Mr. Jayaraj said the squad could execute the cognition arsenic per program arsenic determination was nary rain. The portion has been receiving rains for the past fewer days and adjacent a mean ablution could person affected the operation.

According to Mr. Venkatesh, the tusker’s behaviour successful the kraal volition beryllium monitored for a fewer days, aft which a determination volition beryllium made whether to tame the carnal into a kumki oregon merchandise it into the wild.