The residents of Chinnakkanal heaved a sigh of relief when Arikompan was trapped by the Forest department on Saturday. But there were also those pained by the sight of the animal being shipped away.
Palolil Thomas and his wife Vijayamma, who stood on a way-side rock to get a glimpse of the animal on the truck, could not hide their grief. “Arikompan was like a member of our family. We are going to miss him a lot,” said Ms. Vijayamma.
