Kavadi to face legal action for hacking jumbo’s foot in Mudumalai reserve

Ascientist associated with the Project Elephant initiative under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) on Monday directed Chief Wildlife Warden and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Rakesh Kumar Dogra to take legal action against a former kavadi (assistant to mahout), who allegedly hacked a captive female elephant at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in August.

- S SENTHIL KUMAR @Nilgiris

Dr Arju Mathew George, scientist ‘C’ of Project Elephant, directed action against kavadi D Vikram, who hacked ‘Sumangala’ (38) of Abhayaranyam elephant camp on one of her hind legs with a sickle and left her bleeding in pain. Vikram, who was allegedly drunk, attacked Sumangala after she went near a captive male elephant, ‘Shankar’, which resulted in them clashing against each other