Daijiworld Media Network – Pernem

Pernem, Apr 21: A stray tusker named Omkar was successfully guided back into Maharashtra from Goa on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, forest officials said.

According to sources, the elephant reached Ugade village, located around 9 km from the Goa border, on Monday morning after moving through the Tilari Fakirpata and Kalane regions.

Forest officials said teams had to closely track and actively guide the tusker over a considerable distance to ensure it moved in the right direction. “We had to drive alongside and ensure it moved correctly,” an official said, adding that coordinated ground efforts helped prevent any man-animal conflict and ensured the animal’s safe passage.

Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation to ensure the elephant remains within Maharashtra and does not re-enter Goa. However, residents in Pernem remain apprehensive about the animal’s recurring movements.

Locals pointed out that Omkar has developed a pattern of entering Goa and returning to Maharashtra after a few weeks. A panch member from Tamboxem said that farmers in Maharashtra often scare the elephant back towards the Tiracol River to protect their crops, leading to its repeated crossings.

Last week, the Goa forest department had similarly guided the elephant into Maharashtra. However, after briefly staying in Digne village, the tusker returned to Goa, reportedly due to resistance from villagers on the Maharashtra side who denied it safe passage.

During its second recent entry into Goa, Omkar moved into Pernem taluka in the early hours of March 4 and later retreated into Sindhudurg district on the night of March 19 via Ugade village. Officials said the elephant had earlier been chased into Goa from Netade in Sindhudurg, contributing to the ongoing cycle of cross-border movement