By The Hindu Bureau

Copyright thehindu

Forest Department officials on Monday captured an elephant at Guddehalla village in Chikkamagaluru district. The jumbo had reportedly damaged crops in villages of Kanuru panchayat in N.R. Pura taluk.

The local people had complained to the Forest Department that the animal frequented plantations in the villages and raided crops, causing losses to the farmers. There had been repeated incidents of crop damage for the last 18 months according to them.

Considering the people’s demand, the elected representatives had urged Minister for Forest, Ecology, and Environment Eshwar Khandre to capture the trouble-causing elephant. After obtaining permission from the department to capture the animal, six trained elephants were brought from Sakrebail in Shivamogga and Dubare in Kodagu for the operation.

The ground staff traced the animal to Guddehalla early in the day. In the presence of veterinarians, a tranquilizer dart was fired to sedate the animal. Later, the jumbo was captured with the help of the trained elephants.