Karnataka’s forest department late on Sunday captured a 40-year-old tusker that is said to have trampled two people to death in the Kerekatte range of the Kudremukh wildlife division on October 31.
Following the deaths of Umesh and Harish Shetty allegedly in the elephant attack, locals had protested against the department and sought an end to fatalities caused by man-animal conflict in the region. The Government then issued an order to capture the wild elephant.
On Sunday morning, five trained elephants and more than 100 forest department officials launched an operation to capture the pachyderm. In the evening, the elephant was spotted near the Bhagavathi Nature Camp in Chikkamagaluru, after which the department’s veterinarians fired a tranquiliser dart.
The tranquilised elephant was loaded onto a truck and sent to the department’s Dodda Harave elephant camp, where it will be kept under observation. The elephant had also raided crops in nearby regions, adding to the locals’ concerns.
Two elephants electrocuted
In another incident, the forest department ordered an inquiry into the electrocution of two elephants after they came into contact with an electrified fence in Belagavi district’s Sulegali village on Sunday.
In a letter to the principal chief conservator of forests, Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre said there were allegations that officials and department staff did not take any action even though they were aware of elephants moving near the village.
“If there are lapses on the part of officials, staff, submit a report within five days with a recommendation for disciplinary action,” the minister said in the letter dated November 2.
Khandre also directed officials to initiate action against those who had installed the electric fence in violation of the law.