Tusker Chillikomban drowns in 20ft canal near Pollachi

Palakkad/Coimbatore: A 40-year-old tusker, which was nicknamed Chillikomban by people of Nelliyampathi, drowned after falling into a 20-ft-deep contour canal in Anamalai Tiger Reserve near Pollachi in Tamil Nadu on Saturday.The elephant that was trapped in the canal in Pachathannir beat under Sethumadai East section of Pollachi forest range was first spotted by locals around 4pm and they immediately alerted forest field staff. Forest officials coordinated with Tamil Nadu irrigation department officials to stop the water flow and reduce water level. However, it took considerable time to control the heavy flow.An earthmover was deployed for rescue operation, but the elephant's weight and strong water current made the effort unsuccessful. The elephant was found dead in the canal at 6.40pm.On Sunday, the tusker's carcass was recovered from Udumalpet forest range. After a postmortem examination, the carcass was buried within the forest range.Chillikomban had earned a special place among wildlife enthusiasts and locals of Nelliyampathy. The tusker was named by locals because of its slender, stick-like tusks. Although the elephant occasionally ventured into human settlements in Nelliyampathy, it was not known for causing major disturbances or conflicts, making it a familiar and much-loved presence in the region.