Coimbatore: A herd of six elephants that strayed into human habitations was on the march and kept the forest officials on their toes the whole night.
The elephants that strayed out of the reserve forest from the Marudamalai hills was on the move in Kalappanaickenpalayam and then it moved along the Bharathiar University premises and reached Somayampalayam, near Yamuna Nagar.
On instructions from Conservator of Forests V.T. Kandasamy and District Forest Officer, V. Thirunavukkarasu, the forest officials who kept monitoring the herd finally cornered the herd closer to the reserve forest boundary.
Squad
With the help of anti-depredation squad and anti-poaching watchers, the department managed to push the herd into the forests on the hillock by dawn.
As a matter of precaution, the officials have deployed staff in the area with drums, crackers and searchlights.
The herd will be monitored and steps would be taken to ensure that the elephants are moved back deep into the jungle.