SHIMOGA: As the monsoon sets in, the possibility of capturing the wild elephant roaming menacingly in the Shettihalli forest area, which forms parts of Shimoga, Tirthahalli and Hosnagar taluks, looks remote even after the Union Government has given permission for it.

The Union Ministry of Forests and Environment, in response to the request from the State Forest Department, had given its permission to capture the elephant alive within three months.

Since one month has elapsed already after the permission was given, the Forest Department is left with only two months to complete its exercise to capture it within that time which looks highly unlikely in the given situation.

The State Forest Department had approached the Centre for its permission to catch the tusker in view of the repeated requests by the people's representatives that it had been playing havoc with the people and the property in parts of the Shettihalli forest area since 2000.

Three persons were reportedly trampled to death — one in 2001, other in 2002 and the last one in 2006. It has also been causing extensive damage to standing crops.

When there was no immediate response from the Forest Department to capture the tusker, villagers attacked the Range Forest Officer's office in the Shankarghatta Range to protest against the delay in capturing the tusker.

Preparations

Deputy Conservator of Forest (Wildlife Division) Millo Tago has written to his counterpart in Mysore to spare three well-trained elephants and personnel to take up operations to capture the tusker.

"Apart from it I am getting a departmental vehicle specially fabricated and designed to meet the requirements of capturing the wild tusker. I am also working out a plan to locate the camp setups at various places," he told The Hindu .

According to sources in the Forest Department, it may not be possible to take up the operation during the monsoon as it is would be difficult to move around in the thick forest in heavy rain.

In case the Forest Department does not take up the exercise within three months as directed by the Union Ministry it would have to seek its permission afresh, which may not be obtained immediately.

According to reports reaching here, the tusker has shifted its location from Hosnagar taluk to Sakrebylu and Mandagadde in Tirthahalli taluk posing a threat to the people in the nearby areas.

It is stated that its presence has led to a decline in smuggling activities in the Shettihalli forest area because of the fear it has created among those who go to the forest for nefarious activities.

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