Forest Dept Seeks Approval to Capture Wild Elephant ‘Rolex

Fast Summary

• The forest department is awaiting permission to capture a male wild elephant, nicknamed ‘Rolex,’ believed responsible for killing four people in the Coimbatore Forest Division over recent months.
• The victims included one person each from Coimbatore and Periyanaickenpalayam forest ranges and two from Boluvampatti forest range.
• Public protests erupted following a recent elephant attack on an elderly man at Narasipuram on August 30, 2025. Protesters claimed this particular incident involved a different tusker with a single tusk.
• Officials assured protesters that preventive measures were being implemented and that the proposal for capturing ‘Rolex’ was under consideration, with a decision probable within 10 days.
• Nature enthusiasts cautioned against villainizing elephants through nicknames like ‘Rolex,’ proposing neutral identifiers such as ‘CBE-T1’ (Coimbatore Tusker 1).

Indian Opinion Analysis

The recurring human-wildlife conflicts in Coimbatore underline an urgent need to address ecological balance and territorial overlaps caused by expanding human habitation. While capturing problem elephants like ‘Rolex’ may provide temporary relief, long-term solutions such as habitat conservation, afforestation efforts, and wildlife corridor management are critical to reducing future incidents. Naming conventions suggested by nature enthusiasts highlight how societal perceptions of wildlife can be shaped by language-neutral nomenclature could foster more empathetic relationships between humans and animals. The upcoming decision regarding the tusker’s capture will have significant implications for both public safety and wildlife management strategies. Balancing community concerns with ecological priorities is essential.

Read More: The Hindu Article