MohamedBehan20 at 15:12, 9 April 2026

2026-04-09T15:12:52Z

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{{short description|Indian elephant}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox animal
| name = Arikomban
| image = Arikomban elephant.jpg
| image_size = 320px
| caption = Arikomban found sleeping in a tea estate at [[Chinnakanal]]
| species = ''[[Elephas maximus]]'' (Asian
elephant)
| breed =
| gender = Male
| birth_date = 1986/1987
| birth_place = [[Kerala]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| relativeage =
| nationality = India
| occupation =
| employer =
| years_active =
| known = Ransacking stores of rice
| predecessor =
| successor =
| owner =
| weight =
| height =
| namedafter =
| website =
}}
'''Arikomban''' (born {{circa|1986/1987}}) is a wild male [[Indian elephant]] from [[Kerala]], India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-29 |title=Rogue elephant Arikomban darted with tranquillisers in Kerala's Idukki |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/thiruvananthapuram/rogue-elephant-arikomban-darted-with-tranquillisers-in-keralas-idukki-8582548/ |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> The elephant is known for his raids on local shops for rice and causing damage in [[Chinnakanal]] area of [[Munnar]] and is rumoured to have killed ten people and injured many.<ref name="N(L">{{cite news |last1=Sharma |first1=Aasheesh |title=The Hunt for Arikomban: how a Kerala rogue elephant that killed 10 people is still on the loose |url=https://www.news9live.com/india/the-hunt-for-arikomban-how-a-kerala-rogue-elephant-that-killed-10-people-is-still-on-the-loose-au2209-2119723 |access-date=21 May 2023 |publisher=news9live.com |date=28 Apr 2023}}</ref> It is considered one of the most [[List of individual elephants#Notorious elephants|notorious elephants]] in the world. The name Arikomban is a combination of the [[Malayalam]] words ''ari'', meaning rice, and ''komban'', meaning tusker.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-01 |title=Arikomban: 'Killer' Indian elephant relocated to tiger reserve |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-65446247 |access-date=2023-05-05}}</ref>

Arikomban is estimated to be born in the late 1980s. He was initially known as ''Chinnakomban''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arikomban went from orphaned calf to troublemaker - The New Indian Express |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/mar/24/arikomban-went-from-orphaned-calf-to-troublemaker-2558906.amp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410102707/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/mar/24/arikomban-went-from-orphaned-calf-to-troublemaker-2558906.amp |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 April 2023 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.newindianexpress.com}}</ref> The elephant started violence in the region in the early 2010s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-01 |title='Arikomban', Kerala's Rice-Eating Rogue Elephant Relocated Amidst Row: The Story So Far |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/in-focus/arikomban-keralas-rice-eating-rogue-elephant-relocated-the-story-so-far-article-99907064 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=TimesNow |language=en}}</ref> Arikomban's practice involves breaking into ration shops, home kitchens and grocery stores and eating rice.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chasing Arikomban: Why is Kerala looking for a rogue wild elephant since 2018 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/arikomban-kerala-idukki-search-tranquilise-radio-collar-relocate-wild-tusker-rice-eating-elephant-jumbo-2365775-2023-04-28 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=India Today |date=28 April 2023 |language=en}}</ref> A native's ration shop in Panniyar Estate was vandalized nine times in a year by Arikomban.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-29 |title=How rogue tusker Arikomban was finally captured |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/rogue-tusker-arikomban-captured-8583086/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Since 2005, more than 75 buildings have been destroyed by the elephant.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-29 |title=ഇതാണ് അരിക്കൊമ്പൻ |url=https://newspaper.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/arikomban-mission-moonnar-chinnakkanala-1.8518258 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Newspaper |language=en}}</ref> On 29 April 2023, the Kerala wildlife department tranquillised and captured Arikomban from Chinnakanal and released into the [[Periyar National Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerala's Rogue Elephant Tranqualised, Shifted To Periyar Tiger Reserve |url=https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/mission-arikomban-keralas-rogue-elephant-tranqualised-shifted-to-periyar-tiger-reserve-3991734 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

== History ==

In 2017, [[Kerala Forest Department]] tried unsuccessfully to capture Arikomban. One of the most experienced "[[Kumki (elephant)|Kumkis]]" (trained elephant) handlers in India, Anamalai Kaleem, led the operation, tracked the elephant, and hit it with tranquilliser shots, but it escaped into the wilderness.

In March 2023 a proposal to capture Arikomban by the Kerala government was initially controversial. Animal rights activists opposed the Kerala Forest Department's decision to capture and tame Kumuki elephants at the [[Kodanad Abhayaranyam animal shelter and elephant training centre|Kodanad Elephant Center]] in [[Ernakulam district]]. They petitioned the [[Kerala High Court]], which prevented the department from going ahead.<ref>{{Cite web |last=PTI |date=2023-04-29 |title=Mission 'Arikomban' successful; to be shifted to an undisclosed location |url=https://theprint.in/india/mission-arikomban-successful-to-be-shifted-to-an-undisclosed-location/1546681/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> The court appointed an expert committee to investigate the matter, which recommended moving the elephant to the [[Parambikulam Tiger Reserve]], a wilderness region with no possibility of [[Human-elephant conflict in Kerala|human–elephant conflict]]. Protests quickly broke out in the Parambikulam neighbourhood as locals vehemently opposed the decision.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-23 |title=11 teams and fake grocery shops: Kerala forest department prepares to tame rogue elephant Arikomban |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/india/11-teams-and-fake-grocery-shops-kerala-forest-department-prepares-to-tame-rogue-elephant-arikomban-16243901.htm |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=cnbctv18.com |language=en}}</ref> The Kerala government was then instructed by the High Court to release Arikomban in a location chosen by the government while concealing the location. The court then instructed the forest department to follow the elephant, tranquillize it, and then fasten a radio collar around its neck to monitor its activities.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Forest officials in Kerala on a mission to capture Arikomban, the rice eating elephant |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/etimes/trending/forest-officials-in-kerala-on-a-mission-to-capture-arikomban-the-rice-eating-elephant/articleshow/99862467.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-05-05 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

The government sought alternative areas to relocate the elephant.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-12 |title='Arikomban' puts Kerala government in a catch-22 situation |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/arikomban-puts-kerala-government-in-a-catch-22-situation-1208947.html |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Arikomban: 'Killer' Indian elephant relocated to tiger reserve |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-65446247 |access-date=6 May 2023 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=1 May 2023}}</ref> Arun Zachariah, a wildlife veterinarian, was in charge of the mission to capture Arikomban, assisted by 150 people from the police, health, and motor vehicles departments as well as the rescue services. In a two-day operation, the elephant was successfully tranquillized and herded into a truck using four [[Kumki (elephant)|kumki elephants]] and sent to the [[Periyar National Park|Periyar Tiger Reserve]] on 29 April 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerala: Mission 'Arikomban' successful, rice-eating tusker being shifted to Periyar Tiger Reserve - The Week |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2023/04/30/kerala-mission-arikomban-successful-rice-eating-tusker-being-shifted-to-periyar-tiger-reserve.html |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.theweek.in}}</ref> After Government of Kerala's Relocation efforts failed the Tusker entered inside Cumbum forest range and it was wandering in villages around Cumbum, then the matter went into the hands of [[Tamil Nadu Forest Department|Tamil nadu forest department]], two locations were selected to relocate Arikomban such as Srivilliputtur and Kalakkad. Due to protests in Srivilliputtur Arikomban was finally relocated into dense forest spread of Kalakkad forest range near Upper Kodayar dam.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 2024 |title=Arikomban is safe: TN forest dept rubbishes rumours about tusker's ill health |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2024/07/09/arikomban-safe-healthy-tamil-nadu-forest-department-rubbishes-rumours-tusker-elephant.html }}</ref>

In February 2024, it was reported that Arikomban was settling down well and was being tracked with a radio collar.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-02-12 |title=Arikomban healthy, reports alleging death malicious, says Forest Department |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/arikomban-healthy-reports-alleging-death-malicious-says-forest-department/article67838662.ece |access-date=2025-01-07 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
A [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam feature film]] depicting the life of Arikomban is under development.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coming soon! A biopic on wild tusker Arikomban |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2023/05/06/wild-tusker-arikomban-sajid-yahiya-n-m-badusha.html |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=OnManorama}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[List of individual elephants]]
* [[Elephants in Kerala culture]]
* [[Padayappa (elephant)|Padayappa]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Elephants in Indian culture]]
[[Category:Elephants in Kerala]]
[[Category:Individual elephants in India]]
[[Category:1980s animal births]]
[[Category:Individual wild animals]]
[[Category:Individual Asian elephants]]
[[Category:Elephant attacks]]

Arikomban - Revision history

MohamedBehan20 at 15:12, 9 April 2026