A radio-tagged elephant, originally released in the forests of Sakleshpur in Hassan district, has roamed into the Shivamogga region via the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, creating panic among residents of Thirthahalli taluk.

The wild elephant was recently spotted in the village of Kallondi near Aragada and is said to have covered nearly 50 km in a single day. Despite being equipped with a tracking collar, its path remains erratic and unpredictable. It is believed the animal is seeking a safe place to rest overnight. Forest officials note that the GPS device provides sluggish updates, limiting real-time monitoring.

The 15-year-old tusker had earlier shown signs of aggression and trekked through Lakkavalli’s backwaters, forded the Tunga River near Muduba, and passed through numerous settlements including Ullur, Manive, Uttur, Kuchalu, Balegudda, and Hirebailu.

Thirthahalli MLA Araga Jnanendra, whose own village lies near the elephant’s path, has raised concerns over public safety. Efforts by the Elephant Task Force (ETF) teams from Chikkamagaluru and Hassan have so far failed to steer the animal away from inhabited areas.

Shivamogga territorial DCF Shivashankar speculates that the tusker could be moving toward the Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary. Additional ETF teams from the Sakrebailu elephant camp have been deployed, and several precautionary steps are in place in vulnerable areas like Huruli, Gardaragadde, Nalur, and Ilimane.

Although the elephant’s direction remains unclear, officials estimate it may take around a week for it to return to its home territory.

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