Kraal nears completion as Kerala forest dept readies KM-1 capture

Arrangements to capture KM-1, the wild elephant that has repeatedly strayed into the Aralam farm and rehabilitation area, are gathering pace, with the kraal built to house the animal nearing completion.

Kannur Divisional Forest Officer K. Saji said the department expects kumki elephants from the Muthanga elephant camp in Wayanad to arrive within two days. Four kumkis have been requested, though three are likely to be deployed. Three veterinarians skilled in tranquillising elephants are also expected to join the operation.

KM-1 is presently inside the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, and the department is tracking its movement. The timing and location of the operation will be decided on the basis of where the animal is. Officials are wary of stationing the kumkis too early, since their presence in the sanctuary could alert the elephant and drive it deeper into the forest.

The plan is to tranquillise KM-1 at a spot reachable by vehicles, then use the kumkis to guide it towards the kraal. The elephant must be moved to the kraal before the sedative wears off. No fixed location for tranquillisation has been identified yet; the key requirement is vehicle access so that the sedated animal can be shifted safely.

The operation is expected to begin in two to three days, depending on the elephant's movements and the completion of the remaining arrangements. The kraal is being built with enough room for the elephant to stand and turn safely after capture, and other arrangements for moving and securing the animal are being readied.

KM-1 has been a recurring source of human-wildlife conflict in and around Aralam farm. The department had earlier deployed drones and surveillance cameras to track the elephant after it returned to the sanctuary. The current plan is built around the animal's movement, with officials seeking to avoid disturbing it until it enters an area where tranquillisation and the subsequent move to the kraal can be carried out safely.