Udhagamandalam: The Ministry of Forestry prepares to release Tusker Rivaldo, which was arrested in May and stored in Kraal in Vazhaitestam in the Mudumalai Tiger (MTR) zone –bawuffer in Nilgiris, to the wild.
This step emerged after the eight member committee formed by the Ministry of Forestry to study Tusker’s health condition submit a profitable report about releasing animals into the forest.
The Principal of the Shekar Kumar Niraj forest conservator, who also holds the position of Head of Wildlife Warden, has issued orders for Tusker’s soft release to the forest on Friday.
Tusker has sustained pieces for luggage in an unknown incident.
According to L C Srikanth, Deputy Director, the MTR buffer zone, Wildlife Warden’s head has set a list of standard operating procedures for Rivaldo’s release.
“The process is complicated, because we have to identify the location in the buffer zone for Tusker’s soft release.
It must be a covered location with the hanging fence of solar energy.
Large costs are involved in developing such locations,” said an official.
“At least one hectare of land is needed for the soft release of elephants.” Rivaldo will be a collared radio before releasing it from Kraal.
The meeting, which will be attended by the Sahu Supriya Forest Secretary and Wildlife Warden Head will be held in Ooty on Monday to discuss the release of Tusker.