Mangaluru: Wild elephant attacks family in Belthangady, no fatalities reported

Belthangady: In a frightening incident, a wild elephant attacked a family near Shishila in Belthangady taluk early this morning. The incident occurred as Vasantha Gowda, a resident of Kallaje, was taking his two children, Lavya and Advith, to school on a bike.

The Incident

Around 8:30 am, Vasantha Gowda encountered a lone tusker on the road. Startled, he applied brakes abruptly, causing the bike to skid. All three sustained injuries on their hands and legs as they fell to the ground.

As the elephant approached, the family managed to flee the scene, narrowly escaping further harm. The tusker then destroyed the bike, trampling and completely crushing it.

Rising Elephant Menace

This incident highlights the growing problem of wild elephant encounters in the region. Residents of Belthangady taluk, particularly in areas like Shishila, have frequently reported such encounters, with demands for the Forest Department to take immediate measures escalating.

Public Concerns

Local citizens have called for the Forest Department to implement long-term solutions, including:

• Driving away stray elephants from human settlements.
• Strengthening barriers in forested areas to prevent wild animals from entering villages.
• Establishing dedicated wildlife response teams to ensure swift action in such incidents.

Thankfully, the injuries sustained by the family were non-fatal, but the situation underscores the pressing need for mitigation measures to ensure public safety in wildlife-prone areas.