A rogue tusker, which had killed six people in the last six months, was finally captured on Thursday in Tiptur, near Honavalli in Tumkur.
The tusker on Thursday morning trampled 28-year-old Yogesh to death in Honavalli near KR Katte. According to the deputy conservator of forests, Tumkur wildlife division, UP Singh, the elephant came from Arsikere about five months back and was camping here. Yogesh had gone to attend nature’s call, when he was trampled by the tusker.
Yogesh was the only son in his family and his father, Shivanna had retired from the forest department from the post of range forest officer three years back.
Ironically, Yogesh, an agriculturist, had warned the villagers of a rogue tusker straying around and requesting them to stay indoors. A compensation of `2 lakh has been announced for Yogesh’s family.
The elephant, which was later located nearly a kilometre away from the site of the incident, was darted and tranquilised.
The pachyderm, aged about 20 years, is believed to have strayed out of the Bannerghatta National Park and travelled to Honavalli.
The elephant was declared rogue on November 28 after it killed one man in Arsikere. The central government had then issued orders to capture the tusker and relocate it to Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
Speaking to DNA, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) BK Singh said that plans are on relocate the stray elephant to Cauvery Wildlife sanctuary.
The pachyderm is also being radio-collared under the guidance of noted elephant expert Dr Ajay Desai. “This will help us know its movements and behavioural pattern. This will be the third elephant in the state to be radio-collared. Last year two pachyderms were radio collared in Hassan,” Singh said.
Reacting to this, honorary wildlife warden TVN Murthy pointed out that 12 years ago a big herd of elephants which over the years got divided during various elephant chasing drives along the pathway and the latest to be captured seems to be one of them. He also said that it is not right to declare the elephant as rogue, as it didn’t kill anyone intentionally.
