Kin of man killed while filming jumbo birth to get aid

Forest Minister Ramanath Rai gave details of the incident in which an attempt to record the act of an elephant giving birth to a calf, led to a man’s death in Sakleshpur in Hassan district recently.

The victim, Arun Kumar (40), from Haidoor village, was trying to record the elephant giving birth to a calf in Honkaravalli in Sakleshpur taluk, last Saturday around 10 pm. This is the fourth incident of humans being trampled by elephants in a month’s time in Sakleshpur.

The minister gave the details when JD(S) member H K Kumaraswamy, Sakleshpur suggested that the government take steps to prevent man-elephant conflicts in the Western Ghats.

The minister said the elephant, while giving birth to a calf on the roadside, was surrounded by a herd of six elephants. Arun was among the many passersby who were watching it. He alighted from his bike and began recording the birth on his mobile phone. He was attacked by one of the elephants in the herd. He was trampled. He succumbed to his injuries on Sunday morning.

Rai said Arun’s family had staged a protest in front of the forest department. A compensation of Rs 5 lakh would be given to the kin of the deceased, who were already paid Rs 2 lakh.