Op launched to drive elephants back into forest in Chikkamagaluru

Chikkamagaluru: After the successful rescue of two tuskers in Hassan's Sakleshpura and Alur, the forest department is now prepared to launch a drive to push back nearly 23 elephants straying in Mudigere and Chikkamagaluru taluks.

The forest department rescued two wild elephants, one in Sakleshpura and another in Alur, following the death of two people. The elephants were captured over a span of four days. Now, the authorities have shifted captive elephants, including Mahindra, Bheema, Ekalavya, and Bhyra, to assist the foresters in the drive. The captive elephants were shifted to Chikkamagaluru from Sakleshpur.

The straying wild elephants have camped in coffee estates in Mudigere taluk for more than a month now, and the herd of wild elephants has settled near Chandagodu and Belagodu villages. A group of 18 to 20 elephants is now moving together. Among them are 12 adult elephants and five calves. "Due to the absence of radio collars, it is difficult to monitor the elephants' movements," said an official.

To drive this herd back to the forest, four elephants have been brought from the elephant camps at Nagarahole Tiger Reserve and Dubare Elephant Camp. The elephants are being prepared for the operation at the camp in the Kanathi area. Plans are being made to drive the elephants to the nearby Bhadra Tiger Reserve, he added.

The local residents requested the authorities to drive the elephants deep inside the forest to ensure they will not reappear. "We have been facing trouble for several months. Apart from damaging crops, no labourers will come to work due to threat to their," said Harish, a planter.

However, two other elephants have been moving around Gadichowk, Chandrapur, Kammargodu, Dundug, Halase, Kelluru, and Ghattadahalli in Mudigere taluk. The department has issued warnings to the locals to be careful while moving around.