Makhna elephant goes berserk on Chettalli-Suntikoppa road

A wild elephant which could not cross the ‘elephant gate’ and trenches laid by the Forest department, created ruckus on Chettalli Suntikoppa road on Friday.

A herd of elephants had strayed into a coffee estate on Thursday night and damaged the plants.

The Forest department official said that the elephant, which could not cross the gate, is a Makhna (tuskless male elephant) and is ferocious compared to other wild jumbos. 

A two-wheeler rider and a car taking the route encountered Makhna elephant. Fearing for life, ZP member Sunitha and Manjunath who were travelling in the car ran for their life.

Another person Surendra stayed back in the car. Kodava Makkada Koota leader Karun Malaiah said that the elephant menace has increased in the region. The elepgants have damaged crops of small and marginal farmers. The travel during the night on the stretch has become a nightmare for the vehicle users.

The Forest department officials, who rushed to the spot, had a torrid time in chasing the elephant back to forest. In a bid to facilitate the movement of stranded elephant, the lock of the ‘elephant gate’ was opened. The trenches were filled with soil. After two hours of operation, the stranded elephant returned back to forest, said villager Pappu Thimmaiah.

DFO Edukundala visited the spot and promised the villagers that the department will take necessary steps to appoint morel watchers in Aanekadu reserve forest limits.