In separate incidents in Siddapura and Gonikoppa areas of Kodagu district, two wild elephants have met unfortunate fates recently.
In the first incident near Ammathi, a 13-year-old wild elephant drowned in a lake at Vontiangadi Pachchat. The elephant had ventured into the lake to drink water but was unable to get out, leading to its tragic death. Forest officials, including DCF Jagganath and veterinarian Dr. Chittiappa, conducted a post-mortem and buried the carcass after retrieving it from the lake.
The second incident occurred at a coffee estate in Aravathoklu village near Gonikoppa, where a 10-year-old male elephant was electrocuted. The elephant brushed against an iron pole carrying a fallen 11 KV power line, resulting in its immediate death. Forest officials from Thithimathi and Ponnampet visited the site and initiated further actions.
These incidents highlight ongoing challenges in wildlife conservation efforts and underscore the need for enhanced measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts in Kodagu district.