Gaur that roamed 300 km across districts relocated to forest habitat

The Forest Department captured and translocated an adult gaur that had travelled more than 300 km across various districts before reaching the coastal region near Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district.

According to officials, the 800-kg adult bull gaur, aged between 13 and 15, had strayed from Tiruchi Forest Division and moved through Pudukottai and Tiruvarur districts before reaching the coastal area of Muthupettai.

Over the next month, the animal continued southward along the coastline through Mimisal, Thondi, and Ramanathapuram before finally reaching Mandapam near Pamban.

As the gaur had entered non-native habitats and was moving through densely populated areas, concerns were raised over potential risks to public safety as well as the animal’s welfare. Based on the directions of the Chief Wildlife Warden, the officials decided to capture and relocate the animal to a suitable habitat.

In a social media post, Forests Secretary Supriya Sahu said the operation was particularly challenging as gaurs were among the most difficult wild ungulates to chemically immobilise and transport.

Their large rumen made them vulnerable to complications such as regurgitation, aspiration and asphyxiation during handling.

The bull was successfully tranquilised, captured and transported over a distance of around 200 km. The translocation process, including rest stops and emergency interventions, took nearly nine hours.

The officials said the rescue operation was further complicated by the coastal terrain. Soft sandy soil made it difficult to move heavy machinery and transport vehicles required for the operation.

Around 100 field personnel, including 20 experienced trackers and three wildlife veterinarians, participated in the effort, in which two cranes, five excavators and a tractor were used.

The officials said meticulous planning, coordination among teams and adherence to established wildlife capture and transport protocols ensured the animal’s safe relocation and release into a suitable forest habitat. The experience gained from the operation would help improve future responses to gaur movement and conflict situations, they added.