PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Ramnagar
Two captive elephants of the Corbett Tiger Reserve were brought back a day after they wandered off with a herd of wild elephants. Tunga and Kapila had joined a passing herd on May 19. The behaviour of the two females stationed in Jhirna range is being attributed to the breeding season.
According to officials, the duo was grazing near the range office on May 19 when a large elephant herd passed nearby. The two instinctively followed the herd and disappeared into the forest.
When the mahouts returned later, the elephants were nowhere to be found, triggering concern and immediate action by the Forest department. Search teams were deployed to trace the missing elephants in the dense forest area.
Sub divisional officer Amit Gwasakoti said that the elephants are currently in their breeding season, which may have influenced their behavior and prompted them to accompany the herd. After consistent search efforts, both elephants were located and safely brought back on May 20.
There are a total of 14 captive elephants in Corbett. These pachyderms are used for patrolling and other tasks.
