Embarking on their annual migratory march from across the border, a herd of 87-90 elephants is cited to have crossed borders from Bhannerghatta national park and Cauvery Wild Life sanctuary into Jawalagiri range here.
At present, there are about 30-35 elephants with five calves in Sanamavu reserve forest, says Sukumaran, forest range officer, Jawalagiri range.
From Jawalagiri range, the migratory path crosses Noganur and Denkanikottai reserve forest.
Then it branches into two with one at Sanamavu reserve forest leading up to Maharaja Kadai reserve forest that contiguous with Andhra Pradesh and another at Odedurgam Reserve forest.
From Odedurgam, the elephants cross over to Chittoor division in Andhra Pradesh via Shoolagiri and Melumalai reserve forests.
Besides the herds in Sanamavu range, about 15 elephants are reported to have migrated to Denkanikottai reserve forest and 40 elephants in Savanagiri in Thalli.
Elephant migration commence in October when they enter Thalli Reserve Forest from Bannerghatta National Park and Cauvery Wild Life Sanctuary.
The migratory path of the elephants from Bannarghatta national park and Cauvery Wild Life Sanctuary converges here at Jawalagiri range on the Karnataka-Thalli border here that marks the onward migratory point starting from October.
The migratory period coincides with the cultivation and harvest of Ragi. For the herd led by a dominant matriarch cow and constituted by several offsprings, Ragi serves as significant nourishment.
