Karnataka: Shivamogga Wildlife Division bans public entry in Sakrebailu elephant camp following Dubare incident

Shivamogga: The Deputy Conservator of Forests of Shivamogga Wildlife Division has issued an order temporarily banning the entry of public to Sakrebailu elephant camp near Shivamogga from May 21 until further orders.

Following the tragic incident at Dubare elephant camp in Kodagu district that claimed the life of a female tourist after a fight broke out between two elephants while bathing in the river Cauvery, new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) as a precautionary measure regarding the safety and protection of tourists in the departmental elephant camps is being formulated.

On the directions of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Bengaluru, Sakrebailu elephant camp has been temporarily closed as a precautionary measure until these new safety regulations are ready. The department has asked the public to co-operate with the them in this regard.

Speaking to DH, Deputy Conservator of Forests Prasanna Patagar (Wildlife) said the higher officials have gathered information from field officials on measures to be taken to ensure safety of tourists at the camp. So, they are likely to release some guidelines in this regard and they will be implemented in the camp. The camp is aimed at educating people on elephants and not to generate revenue. The safety of tourists always gets primary importance. "I think the camp may be closed for about 15 days."

On elephants, he said, of the 24 elephants in the camp, three are adult female and two are baby elephants and there is one Makhna (male Asian elephant that naturally lacks tusks) and the rest of them are male elephants.