Forest Department authorities renewed their efforts on Sunday evening to drive back a herd of six elephants from the Mallasandra tank area in Tumkur taluk back into forest.
Six elephants, including two tuskers, were spotted in the tank area two days ago. They are part of a herd of nine elephants — two tuskers, four female elephants and three calves — that entered Tumkur district from Advangi forest in Nelamangala taluk of Bangalore Rural district on October 29.
The herd, which was first spotted in the Olalakallu tank area, split into two groups on November 1.
Three calves
According to department authorities, the three claves were spotted in the Lakshmanasandra tank area and then in the Gangasandra and Adlapura tank areas before they were seen going towards the Bangarpet range forest on the night of November 12.
In Tumkur taluk
The six elephants were spotted in Gubbi taluk, Sira taluk and Chikkanayakanahalli taluk before they entered Tumkur taluk a few days ago. Efforts made by the authorities so far to drive them back into forest have gone in vain.
Range Forest Officer Narasimhamurthy told The Hindu , “The elephants are not returning to forest as they are getting water and a variety of crops to eat in the district.”
Crop loss
He said crop loss due to elephant raids in the district could be between Rs. 15 lakh and Rs. 20 lakh. A report would be submitted to head of the department after assessing the damage, he added.
