Sullia – In a tragic wildlife encounter, a 72-year-old man, identified as Shivappa from Dabbadka Koppad in Chembu village, lost his life following a wild elephant attack late Wednesday night.
The fatal incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. on August 6, when Shivappa reportedly stepped out of his house after hearing his dog barking persistently. Concerned, he went to inspect his nearby areca plantation, where he unexpectedly came face-to-face with the elephant.
Unfortunately, the animal charged at him, causing fatal injuries. His family members quickly rushed him to Sampaje Hospital in Sullia, but he succumbed to his injuries en route, according to sources.
Authorities later shifted the body to Madikeri District Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
This incident has sparked concern among locals, as human-elephant conflicts in forest-adjacent villages continue to pose a serious threat to both human life and wildlife. Residents of Chembu have demanded that forest officials take immediate measures to prevent further intrusions by wild elephants into inhabited areas.
Wildlife officials are expected to conduct a survey of the area and assess any recent elephant movement patterns.
Locals are being urged to remain vigilant during nighttime hours and report any signs of elephant activity to nearby forest offices.