Chennai, Sep 2: The Tamil Nadu forest department and fellow Kumki elephants bid a colourful farewell to their two retiring group members from the Theppakadu elephant camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR).
Murthy and Madumalai were retiring from service at the age of 58 years and were given an official farewell on Monday while they are set to retire on August 31. Fellow Kumkis and other elephants lined up on either side and trumpeted to give both Murthy and Maduamalai a grand send-off. Field director of MTR, D. Venkatesh presented shawls to the two kumkis while tribal artistes played traditional music. The two kumkis were caparisoned and officials with the MTR told IANS that both the jumbos did not seem to have attained the retirement age. The Field Director also presented certificates to the mahouts of the two kumkis.
Notably, Murthy was a killer elephant and had gored and trampled 20 people to death in forest ranges in Wayanad, Kerala, and had forced the Kerala government to issue shooting orders against the jumbo during the 1990s. He later entered the Gudalur forest range and attacked a person. This led to protests in the Gudalur area of Tamil Nadu and people demanded capturing of the elephant. In 1998, Murthy was captured and sent to Thepekkadu elephant camp.
Murthy got the name in memory of Tamil Nadu forest veterinarian, Dr. Krishnamoorthy who had pointed out that the elephant was a rare one and had weighed 4.5 tonnes and at 1.95 m height he was a gigantic elephant.Forest officials at Theppakadu elephant camp told IANS that Murthy after reaching the camp turned obedient elephant and was used by the department in capturing other wild elephants.
Madumalai was captured after he fell into a pit when he was three years old and was later named after Madumalai Tiger Reserve where he was captured.
