Karnataka - Madikeri   

Forest Department permitted to catch stray elephants

By Our Staff Correspondent

MADIKERI, MARCH 15. The Union Government, a few days ago, accorded permission to the Forest Department to catch elephants (two stray and one single) which have been causing havoc in Hassan and Madikeri for some time now, according to information reaching here.

The Hassan Forest Department had written to the Centre requesting for its approval to capture two stray elephants, which had caused damage to crops besides attacking human beings. The Conservator of Forests, Kodagu Circle, Ravindran, confirmed the news when contacted on Monday.

Dr. Ravindran said a similar request was made to the Union Government seeking permission to catch three more elephants in Kodagu. The Government's decision was awaited. However, he said permission now secured for catching two elephants could include animals on the prowl in Kodagu and Hassan districts.

He said the joint operation of the Forest Department in Kodagu, Hassan and the Wildlife wing, Hunsur, could start in the last week of this month. A meeting of all the concerned was held last week to mop up the required resources and logistic support. Doctors were ready and medicine, including darts, had been procured.

Tracking (of the elephants) was on since some time and one of them was sighted a couple of days ago. Details regarding the elephants were being collected.

This was the right time for catching the single elephant in Kodagu as summer has set in. Shortage of fodder and drinking water in the forests would force the elephants out of the forests into crop areas and human habitations. The Forest Department is yet to decide whether to the captured animal should be tamed or translocated to wildlife areas. Elephants moving in herds would not cause problems as would single elephants.

The captured animals might not be shifted to the Nagarahole National Park as there were possibilities of their retuning to the old area. It is learnt that the animals could be shifted to the Bhadra wildlife sanctuary.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

Forest Department permitted to catch stray elephants
Suicide: people demand second post-mortem

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu