Wild elephant strays into rejuvenation camp,attacks pachyderms

A pachyderm from the jungles today strayed into an elephant rejuvenation camp at Nellithurai in the district and created panic for some time by attacking some elephants before it was driven away by mahouts.
The mahouts and workers were taken aback to see the 'visitor', which entered the camp by breaking the solar fence and attacked a 14-year old elephant, Bomman, police said.
The elephant then took on two more pachyderms, following which mahouts and some workers burst crackers and also hurled stones at it. After about half an hour, they managed to drive it away back to the jungles, police said, adding vigil has been stepped up to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Eighteen forest elephants are in the 48-day camp near Mettupalayam in the district, which began on December 19. Another camp is being held at Thekkampatti, some distance away.
The government had announced on December 14 that the annual elephant rejuvenation camp, a pet initiative of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, would be held for 48 days from December 19 in which 98 pachyderms will be treated.
The rejuvenation camps were started in 2003 following complaints that the jumbos were not treated properly in temples and mutts. The camps provide the elephants a rest, nutritious food and medical treatment, besides training the mahouts to deal with the gentle giants with compassion.