A herd of wild elephants strayed into human habitation near Nanjangud creating panic among the local community.
There were four elephants, which were sighted near Hura village and about 500 metres from Kittur Rani Channamma School, but Hanumanthappa, DCF, said that officials had camped in front of the institution to ensure that the herd did not venture too close.
He said local staff, including the Range Forest Officer, was camping at the spot and an operation was launched late in the evening on Wednesday to drive the herd back to the forest. The elephants tend to stay put in the fields during the day to feel safe, given the human congregation to witness them, said the official.
It is a standard practice to nudge and drive the elephant herd towards the jungles late in the evening or at night as the chances of the animals coming into conflict with people are low. “We want to send them back to Nugu, which is the closest forest via Mullur Gudda,” said Mr. Hanumanthappa.
