Forest department captures rogue elephant in Belur

Belur (Hassan dist): On the first day of its operation to rescue rogue elephants creating panic in Belur and the surrounding areas, the forest department was successful in rescuing a male elephant on Sunday.

The operation launched with the help of tamed elephants Bheema, Kanjan, Harsha, Dhananjaya, Mahendra, Ekalavya, led by Prashant, rescued a male jumbo. The government has given permission to rescue four jumbos that have turned into a nightmare for the people of the region.

The veterinarians tranquilised a jumbo, around 18-years-old, identified by the forest department and the Elephant Task Force. Once darted, the tusker, which was with another jumbo, started running helter-skelter for more than an hour, creating an anxiety among the personnel, who struggled to separate them. Once the tusker collapsed due to darting effect, the personnel rescued it with the help of tamed elephants.

Chief Conservator of Forest Yedukondalu said, "The operation was launched at 8 am. On the first day of the operation, a tusker has been captured. The rescued jumbo, apart from destroying crops in the region, had been creating panic among the people. Around 200 personnel, including police and the Forest department, took part in the operation. The other rogue jumbos too will be captured soon."

DCF Saurabh Kumar said the government is committed to provide a permanent solution to the wild jumbo menace in the region. The Forest minister had directed to provide compensation for crop loss due to wild jumbos.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Subhash K Malkhade, Additinal PCCF Elephant Task R Manoj guided the operation.

Meanwhile, Belur MLA H K Suresh alleged that the government has been trying to divert the people by giving permission to rescue three jumbos, as the Cabinet session is on. All the 100 elephants in the taluk should be captured and allow the farmers and the people to live in peace, he urged.