Wed May 07 13:47:08 UTC 2025: ## Wild Elephant Elusive in Doddabetta Operation
**UDHAGAMANDALAM, May 7, 2025** – A three-day operation to remove a disoriented male elephant from Doddabetta Peak in the Nilgiris continues without success. Forest department officials have employed fireworks to coax the animal away from its current location near a Cinchona plantation, but the elephant remains elusive.
Doddabetta Peak has been closed to tourists for a second day as the operation unfolds. With the current methods proving ineffective, officials are now considering tranquilizing the elephant and returning it to its original habitat on the Coonoor slopes. This approach, however, is viewed with caution by conservationists. They warn that tranquilizing a stressed animal in such a location poses significant risks, given its proximity to human settlements and the challenging terrain.
A conservationist from the Nilgiris expressed concern that the elephant, already distressed for three days, could be further harmed by the procedure. They emphasized the need for extreme caution during any relocation attempt. However, they also acknowledged the need for intervention, stating that the Doddabetta area may lack sufficient resources to sustain the elephant. The situation remains ongoing.
First Piper 