Chamarajanagara: The Forest Department Officials’ Team have captured a radio-collared pachyderm which was attacking villagers and destroying crops and properties during the night.
The Officials with the help of Department elephants launched a combing operation on Sunday January 8 and have finally succeeded in capturing a pachyderm in the Kadakoti Area of Gopalaswamy Betta Zone of Bandipura Tiger Reserve on Tuesday January 10. After the farmers appealed to the Forest Department to capture and relocate the elephant on December 21, the Officials obtained permission to capture the elephant. The movement of the elephant was checked and the search was expedited on Sunday. The Officials pressed a combing operation and expert elephants Abhimanyu, Mahendra, Ganesha and Bhima of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve were assigned into service and Veterinary Officers Dr. Mirza Wasim, Dr. Ramesh and Dr. Mujeeb Rehman assisted in elephant capture operation. As a result of the continuous efforts of the Forest Officials and Staff, the elephant was safely captured by giving tranquiliser.
The captured elephant with a radio collar is being shifted to Ramapura Breeding Camp in Ainur Marigudi Zone under Bandipura Forest Division. The farmers heaved a sigh of relief. Elephant menace has increased in the villages beside forests in Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Mysuru, and Kodagu Districts. The State Government formed Elephant Task Force in four districts to control the wild elephant menace after a severe protest by villagers. Despite the task force, the wild elephant menace has not been reduced in many parts.
Recently in Mysuru, Forest Officials captured a wild elephant which claimed three human lives in Mysuru District through Operation Elephant. The State Government raised the compensation for deaths caused by wild animals from Rs. 7.5 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh.
