Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur
Kundapur, Jun 6: A lone wild elephant that had been roaming near forest-border villages of Siddapura, creating panic among residents for the past three days, was finally captured on Thursday evening, following a massive and coordinated operation involving six kumki (trained) elephants and a 150-member team.
The elephant, which had wandered into Siddapura town and surrounding areas, had disrupted normal life, forcing authorities to declare holidays for schools and anganwadis. Businesses were also ordered to shut down by 6:30 pm as a precautionary measure.
The operation to capture the elephant involved teams from the Chikkamagaluru Elephant Task Force (ETF), Kudremukh and Shivamogga wildlife divisions, regional forest departments from Kundapur, Siddapura, Amasbailu, and urban wildlife ranges, as well as Shankaranarayana range officials.
Efforts intensified on Thursday afternoon when forest officials began tracking the elephant using a radio collar it was fitted with earlier. By 5:30 pm, veterinarians Dr Kallappa from Sakrebailu, Dr Yashaswi from Mangaluru, and Dr Ramesh from Nagarahole administered a tranquilizer dose of 1.2 ml.
Though the elephant was expected to lie down within 8–10 minutes, it moved nearly 1.5 km deep into the forest before collapsing near Urapalu in Hennabailu. Kumki elephants including Bheema from Nagarahole, and Bahaddur, Balachandra, and Somanna from Sakrebailu were used in the operation. Mahouts, forest guards, and veterinarians worked in coordination to complete the capture successfully.
The elephant had originally been tranquilized and relocated to Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary from Hassan after displaying rogue behaviour near forest fringes. However, it did not integrate with the herd and escaped, travelling over 150 km through the Lakkavalli forest before entering Siddapura via the Balebare Ghat on June 3 night.
Despite several attempts by four ETF teams, the elephant evaded capture for two days. Finally, on Thursday, the massive team managed to locate and capture it in the Urapalu forest near Hennabailu.
The elephant has now been relocated to the Sakrebailu elephant camp.
In anticipation of the operation, electricity supply to parts of Siddapura was temporarily disconnected. Loudspeakers mounted on autos were used to alert the public. The Siddapura–Hosangadi state highway was closed between 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm to avoid disruptions.
Dr K Vidyakumari, Udupi deputy commissioner, stated, “The elephant was captured successfully without any harm to the public. Preventive measures were taken to ensure safety, and the forest department has been directed to remain alert.”
Assistant conservator of forests, Shivaram Babu of the Kudremukh division, added, “The operation was successful thanks to the teamwork of 150 personnel, three veterinarians, and six kumki elephants. The elephant has been safely relocated to Sakrebailu as per higher authorities’ directions.”
Schools, colleges, and anganwadis in Siddapura, Hosangadi, Yedamoge, and Kamalashile, which were closed on Wednesday and Thursday, will reopen from June 6.