The Forest department had spent ₹21.38 lakh for translocating wild tusker Arikompan from Chinnakkanal to the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Thekkady on April 30, according to a Right to Information Act (RTI) document.
A sum of ₹1,83,664 was spent for cutting eucalyptus trees for making a kraal and ₹1,81,828 for constructing a kraal at Kodanad to accommodate Arikompan after its capture. A sum of ₹1,00,000 was handed over to the Chinnakkanal rapid response team as advance for the mission. In addition, ₹15,85,555 was spent on the entire operation, says the document.
The RTI reply was secured on an application filed by Ernakulam resident Raju Vazhakkala.