Chinnathambi - Gentle Giant

Chinna Thambi is a 25-year-old wild bull elephant. He was captured by forest officials in Coimbatore South Tamilnadu. and translocated to kraal at Varakaliyar elephant camp near Topslip. The elephant then escaped and walked more than 100 km (62 mi) back to the place from where he was captured in search of his family.This elephant was both loved and feared by the villagers.

Chinna Thambi was born in the area known as Booluvamppati in Coimbatore range, this elephant was named chinna thambi by one Mr Abraham who is an environmental Photographer in Annaikatti hills near Coimbatore. This animal was first spotted by him in the year 2007 at a place called Thanni Paarai near the Anuvavi Subramanyaswamy Temple. Due to encroachment of the forest area his habitat had been destroyed and as a result of lack of food this elephant started to destroy the crops of the village. Based on the public concerns the elephant was first captured from Thadagam village on 25th January 2019 and was translocated to the Topslip tiger reserve and was released in Varakaliyaru forest area. However, in search of his family the elephant started walking back to its earlier territory and went around Udumalai and Krishnapuram area, covering over 100 km (62 mi) in three days. The forest department again returned him back to the forest area but he always walked back. Later the tusker was captured from Sarkar Kannadipur village near Madathukulam in Tirupur district and shifted to kraal at varakaliyar elephant camp near Topslip.