Bantwal: Two wild elephants caused a stir on Saturday morning after they were seen bathing in the Netravati river at Saralikatte, Perne in Bantwal taluk.
Sight Creates Excitement and Concern
The elephants reportedly roamed through plantations and farmlands on Friday night before reaching the river the next day. The unusual sight drew a large number of curious villagers, many capturing videos and photos of the rare spectacle.
Alarmed by the possibility of crop damage and human-elephant conflict, locals alerted the forest department, which quickly deployed teams from Bantwal, Belthangady, and Puttur to monitor the animals.
Forest Department’s Swift Response
With assistance from police and gram panchayat members, officials used controlled measures such as firecrackers to guide the elephants back towards the forest. By dusk, the duo had reportedly moved towards the Surya forest range, easing tensions among the villagers.
Officials Urge Caution
A local panchayat member noted,
“This kind of sighting is unusual here. While it was fascinating, it also caused fear among locals and damage concerns for crops.”
Forest officials have assured continued surveillance and precautionary measures to prevent future incidents and reduce the risk of human-elephant encounters.