Adult gaur roamed over 300 kilometers,spanning multiple districts,now safely relocated to forest habitat by Forest Department. 800-kilogram bull,aged 13-15 years,strayed from Tiruchi Forest Division,passing through Pudukottai and Tiruvarur before reaching Muthupettai along Tamil Nadu coast.
After initial trek,animal kept moving south along coast through Mimisal,Thondi,finally into Ramanathapuram district. Arrived at Mandapam near Pamban . Concerns grew over its safety and threat to public as it entered crowded and non-native areas.
Officials,acting on Chief Wildlife Warden's directives,captured and relocated gaur. Forests Secretary Supriya Sahu highlighted operation's challenges,noting gaurs are difficult to immobilize and move due to large rumen,raising risks like regurgitation and asphyxiation during handling.
The bull was tranquilized and moved roughly 200 kilometers. Whole process,including rest stops and emergency measures,lasted nearly nine hours. Coastal terrain posed extra challenges,with soft sandy soil slowing machinery and vehicles .
About 100 field staff,20 seasoned trackers,three wildlife vets joined in . Two cranes,five excavators,a tractor used for capture and transport. Officials stressed that meticulous planning,coordination,adhering to wildlife protocols key to success. Lessons learned here could shape future responses to wandering gaurs and potential conflicts…
