Forest dept captures third elephant in week-long Sakleshpur operation

HASSAN: In a successful week-long operation, the forest department captured the third wild elephant at Hebbanahalli, Sakleshpur taluk, on Sunday. This concludes a mission ordered by Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre to capture three rogue elephants that were terrorizing Belur and Sakleshpur regions.

Launched on March 16, the operation utilized seven tamed elephants — Dhananjaya, Prashantha, Bheema, Kanjan, Harsha, Ekalavya, and Mahendra — to assist in the capture. The first elephant was caught at Bikkodu on March 16, followed by tusker Vikrant on March 20, who has been shifted to Sakrebyle Elephant Camp, Shivamogga. The third elephant, a makna, will be relocated to Bhadra Reserve.

The captured elephants had been raiding crops, attacking villagers, and were responsible for three human deaths, prompting public outcry and swift departmental action. Officials from the Elephant Task Force closely tracked the elephants’ movements throughout the operation.

Conservator of Forests V Yedukondalu, DCF Saurabh Kumar, and veterinarians coordinated the effort. Minister Khandre commended the team’s dedication and assured measures would continue to balance human safety and wildlife protection.

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