Arikomban

Arikomban (born c. 1986/1987) is a wild male Indian elephant from Kerala, India.[1] Arikomban is a victim of the merciless land mafia, who has targeted him for their vested interests.[2] The elephant is accused of raids on local shops for rice and, in the process, damaging houses in the Chinnakanal area of Munnar.[3] But there are many forest officials and locals who claim that Arikomban has caused no harm to life and property other than occasionally raiding ration shops and houses for rice.[4][5]

Arikomban
Arikomban found sleeping in a tea estate at Chinnakanal
SpeciesElephas maximus (Asian elephant)
SexMale
Born1986/1987
Kerala, India
Nation fromIndia
Known forArikomban
Height10 ft 4 in (315 cm)
Named afterIt is named after Ari which means rice in malyalam as it raided shops for eating rice

The name Arikomban is a combination of the Malayalam words ari, meaning rice, and komban, meaning tusker.[6]

Arikomban is estimated to be born in the late 1980s. He was initially known as Chinnakomban.[7] Kerala's government rehabilitated landless people into "301 colony," an elephant corridor.[8] Despite IFS officer Prakriti Srivastava issuing a warning against allowing human settlements in Chinnakanal, her concerns went unheeded.[9] Due to the frequent presence of wild elephants in the area, many people have chosen to leave.

The resort mafia exploited the situation by offering a sum of 15 lakhs[10] to these people. They perceived the presence of elephants as an obstacle to their activities, as Elephants trample over new constructions in their path as they move.[11] Elephants have genetic memories passed down through generations, and so in the wild, a herd of elephants walks through the same path which is imbibed in their memory, unintentionally trampling over new constructions or obstructions in their path.[12] Then they started spreading false stories against Elephants, using tribes people and plantation workers as tools.[13] A campaign was unleashed through local and social media, and Arikomban became their first target. Arikomban was portrayed as a killer elephant. The land mafias then filed a case to have him captured.[14]

The paradox is that humans encroached upon his home, destroyed the trees, stole his food, displaced his natural habitat with bricks and cement, and later initiated an accusation against him.[15] In addition to the illegal encroachment and the presence of humans that threw the elephants out of their habitat, the government started tourism activities in the Annayirangal reservoir.[16] Annayirangal in Malayalam means the elephant slope. Due to water and food availability, Annayirangal was a hub of wild animals, including Elephants. The sound of the tourist boats scare the animals, and the Elephants do not even have an escape route as the whole area is encroached upon and converted to private properties and secured with fences.[17] Arikomban comes into the human settlements in search of food and water because he is hungry.[18]

On 29 April 2023, following the court order, the Kerala wildlife department tranquilized and captured Arikomban from Chinnakanal and released into the Periyar National Park.[19] However, the judge elucidated that the conversion of natural grasslands into eucalyptus forests, primarily to cater to human needs, has resulted in the deprivation of food and water sources for elephants and other wildlife.[20]

Arikomban, though sedated with multiple shots, fiercely resisted the 150-member team and the four kumki elephants who tried to capture and translocate him. He was not ready to leave his homeland. For many in his homeland, Arikomban now stands as a symbol of resilience in the face of injustice.[21]

Arikomban's plight sheds light on the harsh reality of illegal land encroachments which forcibly displaced him from his natural habitat and ultimately led to Arikomban being translocated from his land[22] However, Arikomban's ordeal and forced relocation from his soil and herd for no fault of his own has awakened Kerala's consciousness and got Arikomban a huge fan base.[23]

History

Early life

Arikomban's tragic story started in December 1984 when the tribal people heard the loud cries of a baby elephant. Arikomban was found crying next to his mother's lifeless body. He stood there for days trying to wake up his dead mother. He still visits the same spot every year, perhaps mourning the loss of his mother.[24]

First Arikomban mission

In 2017, the Kerala Forest Department tried to capture Arikomban in Chinnakanal. The mission was led by Arun Zachariah along with four veterinarians, 100 forest personnel, and two "Kumkis" (trained elephants) in India.

The forest personnel closely watched Arikomban for several days before initiating the first Arikomban mission in the upper Anaerangal forest region. Two tranquilizer shots were fired on the first day, but Arikomban evaded capture.

On the second day of the mission, four tranquilizer shots were fired at Arikomban in a spot adjacent to the Cement Palam, near "Chinnakanal". However, these shots failed to sedate Arikomban, ultimately leading to the failure of the mission[25]

Second Arikomban mission

The Second Mission proposed by the Kerala government in March 2023 initially endured controversy, including animal rights activists opposing the Kerala forest department's move to capture and tame Kumuki elephants at the Kodanad Elephant Center in Ernakulam district. They petitioned the Kerala High Court, which, after hearing the petition, stopped the department from the move.[26] To investigate the matter, the court-appointed an expert committee. The committee recommended moving the elephant to a wilderness region without any possibility of human-human conflict. The Parambikulam Tiger Reserve was where the committee advised moving Arikomban. Protests quickly broke out in the Parambikulam neighborhood as locals vehemently opposed the decision.[27] The Kerala government was then instructed by the High Court to release it in a location of its choosing, while keeping the location a mystery. The court then instructed the forest department to follow the elephant, tranquilize it, and fasten a radio collar around its neck to monitor its activities.[28]

The government subsequently launched a big operation and started looking for alternate areas to relocate the elephant.[29][30] Arun Zachariah, a wildlife veterinarian, was in charge of the mission. 150 people from the police, health, and motor vehicles departments, as well as the rescue services, assisted in the mission. A tranquilized Arikomban was herded into a truck using four kumki elephants and sent to the Periyar Tiger Reserve on 29 April 2023 following a two-day operation.[31]

The Kerala government spent an astronomical 80 lakhs for the above operation.[32] Over the past four years, the government has allocated a staggering 3 crores towards the capture and training of elephants.[33] However, still numerous human lives are lost in human-animal conflicts and added to it is the agony and pain of a highly emotional and magnificent animal being caught in a lifetime of captivity or forced relocation from its natural habitat and family. The High Court observed that relocating the 301 colony residents and opening up the elephant corridors is a better solution.[34] Definitely, the cost of relocating the 301 colony residents and converting the encroached forest lands into grassland for the Elephants would be much less than what was spent. Just because he is not a human but a voiceless Elephant who has none to support, we invaded his home, tranquilized him with multiple shots, and relocated him forcefully to an unknown forest away from his home and family. His resistance and cries would melt any human's heart.

Tribals in Chinnakanal staged protests demanding to bring back Arikomban to Chinnakanal.[35]

Third Arikomban mission

After being released into the forest, Arikomban embarked on a determined journey in search of his home and family.[36] Covering a distance of 30 to 40 kilometers each day, he eventually reached Meghamalai in Tamil Nadu. However, realizing this was not the right direction to reunite with his loved ones, he turned back towards Chinnakanal. Along his path, he unexpectedly found himself entering the town of Cumbum. Arikomban has become a media sensation by then and people could recognize him. A YouTuber flew a drone to capture his movements. Scared of the sound of the drone, Arikomban started running in panic. People, too, started fleeing in panic; one of them got critically injured and later succumbed. With this, the Tamil Nadu government captured and released him to another forest. Within 37 days, Arikomban was given tranquilizer shots again and captured. He was transported to Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, standing in the scorching sun for 24 hours, and was given multiple tranquilizer shots on the way.[37] Arikomban was made to travel 306 km standing in the scorching sun in a wildlife ambulance and he sustained a deep wound in his trunk and an injured leg as a result of transportation.

Even after a month of his release to Mundanthurai tiger reserve, he has not traveled far from his release location, whereas a healthy Elephant walks 10 to 15 kilometers a day. This has made people doubtful of his health. The Tamil Nadu government has not released many pictures or videos of Arikomban. However, they have stated that there are camera traps in the release area, and forest officials are continuously monitoring him. Supriya Sahu  Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Twitter feed is full of requests for Arikomban's pictures and videos. There is a lot of secrecy maintained about Arikomban by the Tamil Nadu government.

Protests were held in multiple parts of Kerala which demanded releasing Arikomban back to his home, Chinnakanal.[38] Prayers and poojas were held in temples for his health.[39] There were multiple pleas to high court and supreme court to take care of Arikomban's heath.

A farmer in Kerala has erected an 8-foot statue of the tusker outside his shop in Arikomban's homeland.[40]

A Malayalam feature film depicting the life of Arikomban is under development.[41]

See also

References
  1. "Rogue elephant Arikomban darted with tranquillisers in Kerala's Idukki". The Indian Express. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  2. "Justice for Arikomban amid the fierce battle for land grab". English.Mathrubhumi. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  3. Sharma, Aasheesh (28 April 2023). "The Hunt for Arikomban: how a Kerala rogue elephant that killed 10 people is still on the loose". news9live.com. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  4. 25
  5. "അരിക്കൊമ്പൻ, പി.ടി-7 ദൗത്യത്തിന് ചെലവായത് 33 ലക്ഷം രൂപ; ഇനിയും കാട്ടാനകൾ ഖജനാവ് കട്ടുമുടിക്കുമോ?". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  6. "Arikomban: 'Killer' Indian elephant relocated to tiger reserve". BBC News. 1 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  7. "Arikomban went from orphaned calf to troublemaker - The New Indian Express". www.newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  8. "Forest department plans jumbo corridor in Kerala". The Times of India. 3 April 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  9. "Justice for Arikomban amid the fierce battle for land grab". English.Mathrubhumi. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  10. "Is the forest dept teaming up with land mafia to evict tribal families from Idukki?". English.In exchange for acquiring the title deeds to the land, Mathrubhumi. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  11. "Is the forest dept teaming up with land mafia to evict tribal families from Idukki?". English.Mathrubhumi. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  12. Desk, TC Web (22 April 2023). "Elephant expert claims that memory of the biggest land mammals lasts for five generations". Tatsat Chronicle Magazine. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  13. Shaji, K. A. (31 March 2023). "In defence of Arikomban — the ration-shop raider in Kerala's hill station Munnar". The South First. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  14. "No end for Arikomban's Trauma". English.Mathrubhumi. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  15. "Kerala High Court to hear petition to capture Arikomban on March 29". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  16. "Anayirangal Dam in Munnar-Elephant Arrival Spot in Munnar | Munnar Insider". 15 November 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  17. "How wild elephants in Munnar forests were thrown out of their habitat". OnManorama. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  18. "Justice for Arikomban amid the fierce battle for land grab". English.Mathrubhumi. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  19. "Kerala's Rogue Elephant Tranqualised, Shifted To Periyar Tiger Reserve". NDTV.com. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  20. "Justice for Arikomban amid the fierce battle for land grab". English.Mathrubhumi. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  21. "From the wild, back to the wild: Arikomban captured after 12-hour long operation in Kerala". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  22. 21.
  23. 22
  24. "No end for Arikomban's Trauma". English.Mathrubhumi. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  25. "'മയക്കുവെടിയേറ്റിട്ടും അന്ന് അരിക്കൊമ്പൻ മെരുങ്ങിയില്ല..' 2017ലെ ദൗത്യത്തിൽ സംഭവിച്ചത്| Arikomban". YouTube.
  26. PTI (29 April 2023). "Mission 'Arikomban' successful; to be shifted to an undisclosed location". ThePrint. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  27. "11 teams and fake grocery shops: Kerala forest department prepares to tame rogue elephant Arikomban". cnbctv18.com. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  28. "Forest officials in Kerala on a mission to capture Arikomban, the rice eating elephant". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  29. "'Arikomban' puts Kerala government in a catch-22 situation". Deccan Herald. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
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  33. "Kerala spends Rs 3 crore to capture rogue elephants over four years".
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  35. "Tribals stage protest demanding return of Arikomban to Chinnakanal". English.Mathrubhumi. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
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  38. "'Arikomban': Activists take out march". The Times of India. 11 June 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  39. "അരിക്കൊമ്പന്റെ സൗഖ്യത്തിന് ക്ഷേത്രത്തിൽ 2 ദിവസത്തെ പൂജ; വഴിപാട് നടത്തിയത് പ്രവാസി മലയാളി". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  40. "Kerala man says Arikomban brought him luck, erects 8-feet sculpture of tusker outside his shop". India Today. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  41. "Arikomban is back - Latest location updates of Arikomban Elephant". Viralkerala. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
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