Wild elephant captured in Kodagu

  • 16/12/2008

  • Hindu (New Delhi)

Jeevan Chinnappa DUBARE ELEPHANT CAMP (KODAGU DT.): A five-day hunt to capture a wild elephant ended dramatically in the Maldare forest area in Kodagu on Tuesday with the capture of the animal by Forest Department officials. This came as a relief to the people of Maldare. The operation to track and capture four elephants began with a puja here on December 10. The elephant caught on Tuesday is said to have killed five persons in and around Maldare recently. The team comprising Forest Department officials and veterinarians sighted the elephant at Avaregunda at 1.45 p.m. Darted by expert Venkatesh at around 2 p.m., the animal fell down at 2.15 p.m. Operations to tie it up by the four kumkis (tamed elephants) then began. The animal was revived at 3 p.m., J.L. Srinivas, veterinarian, told The Hindu. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) granted permission to capture four elephants in Kodagu recently and today