A joint operation launched by the Forest department and various government agencies to drive wild elephants away from human settlements in Aralam farm and rehabilitation areas entered its fourth day on Friday (May 22), with nine elephants being driven back into the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary since the mission began on May 19.

Despite heavy rain, adverse weather conditions, and aggressive resistance from the elephants, the team continued its mission without interruption. A herd of seven elephants that had been driven towards the Vattakkad area on Thursday (May 21) crossed the Thalippara ANERT fencing and entered the forest on Friday morning. Later, during a search operation near the helipad area, another tusker was identified and successfully driven into the forest through the Thailppara fencing route.

More than 40 personnel participated in the drive.

Forest officials said a major challenge now was preventing the elephants from re-entering the farm area. Patrol has been intensified along the borders.

As part of the next phase of the mission, the Forest department plans to undertake technology-assisted surveillance over the next two days (Saturday and Sunday). Drone cameras, camera traps, and night-vision thermal binoculars will be used to determine the exact location and number of the remaining elephants in the farm area.

Officials said the next phase would resume on Monday (May 25), after completing surveillance.