The Forest Department’s operation to capture the tusker, which was responsible for the death of a 65-year-old farmer at Kanaguppe in Belur taluk on April 12, failed. The elephant darted with the tranquiliser and succeeded in escaping despite efforts to capture the animal with the help of kumki (trained) elephants.
The Forest Department began the operation to capture the animal on April 15. The ground staff traced the animal to Keragodu. As part of the operation, the officials sedated the animal with a tranquilliser dart. But, the elephant escaped, snapping the rope. The efforts of the kumki elephants to stop the animal did not succeed.
The team is expected to resume the operation on April 16.
Raja Shetti, a farmer, was killed by the elephant when he was on the way to his farm on April 12. Following the incident, local people staged a protest and demanded a permanent solution to the human-elephant conflict in the area.
