Ooty: It is kumki trouble at Gudalur as both kumki elephants from the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), which were deployed to drive away stray wild elephants in Gudalur village limits, turned violent. They have suddenly entered the musth stage, a condition where male elephants begin to secrete high amounts of reproductive hormones that make them behave aggressively towards humans. Foresters are looking for other alternatives to manage the situation.
Only a week ago two kumki elephants - Wasim and Vijay, from the MTR elephant camp were brought to Ettimoola village in Gudalur on the Nilgiris border to drive away a wild elephant which strayed into the village. Both kumki elephants have now turned violent, and kumki elephant Vijay attacked and injured its mahout Murugesan on Monday night and remained very aggressive throughout Tuesday.
Forest sources said that on Sunday night Wasim turned violent and from Monday night onwards it was the turn of Vijay.
“Elephants in musth discharge a thick secretion on the sides of the head,” forest sources added.
While Wasim was chained and sent back to MTR, Vijay was chained and is being monitored in a confined area in Ettimoola. Foresters replaced Wasim with another kumki elephant Bomman from MTR, and are looking for another replacement for Vijay, sources added.
It may take another couple of weeks for these kumki elephants to become normal, sources pointed.
