Captured elephant Radhakrishnan launched in Kalakkad Mudanthurai Tiger Reserve

A month after its seize, the O’Valley tusker nicknamed ‘Radhakrishnan’ was launched from kraal and returned to the wild within the Kalakkad Mudanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) on Saturday (October 25, 2025) night time, the forest division confirmed.

R. Kiruba Shankar, Field Director of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), stated the elephant, captured from O’Valley in Gudalur in September, had been stored inside a kraal (elephant shelter) to exert some behavioural modifications to the animal, which was recognized to be extremely aggressive.

“In O’Valley, it was charging at individuals and attacking, and a choice was made to maintain it contained in the kraal to calm it down,” stated Mr. Kiruba Shankar. He added the forest division had been monitoring the elephant and observed that its behaviour had altered considerably since its seize.

“There was minimal intervention throughout the time it was contained in the kraal. The forest division was solely observing the animal and guaranteeing that it was feeding,” he added.

Following a month contained in the kraal, veterinarians checked on the well being of the elephant within the days previous to its launch. “Initially, we had thought we’d launch it throughout the Nilgiris solely. However, as we feared the elephant would attempt to make its means again to O’Valley, it was determined to launch it in KMTR,” added the Field Director.

Attributed deaths

Radhakrishnan, which is believed to have killed 5 individuals throughout unfavorable human-elephant interactions in O’Valley, is anticipated to steer clear of human habitations sooner or later as a result of interventions by the forest division.

Surveillance

The elephant has been fitted with a radio collar and a staff of workers from the forest division will monitor its actions to make sure it doesn’t stray too near human settlements and to maintain tabs on it whereas it acclimatises to its new atmosphere.