A radio-collared wild tusker from Tamil Nadu attacked two persons, including a farmer and a villager, on the outskirts of Bandipur Tiger Reserve, 80 km from Mysuru, on Tuesday.
The injured — Siddaiah and Swamy from Hangala village in Gundlupet taluk — have been rushed to hospitals in Mysuru and their condition is said to be stable. One of them allegedly was taking a selfie with the elephant when he was injured.
The elephant had been captured near Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu, radio-collared and released in Madhumalai National Park by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department after it was involved in similar incidents in the neighbouring State. The authorities were radio-tracking it regularly.
However, it was unexpectedly spotted near Hangala, between Bandipur and Gundlupet town, on Tuesday. The villagers informed the forest authorities. They learnt that it belonged to Madhumalai.
Bandipur Tiger Reserve Director T. Balachandra told The Hindu that the Karnataka Chief Wildlife Warden has given permission to capture the elephant and shift it to Sakrebail elephant camp near Shivamogga.
“We have sighted the jumbo. Our tamed elephants, particularly Abhimanyu, will be joining the operation to confine the wild elephant on Wednesday. Our people are present at the spot keeping a close watch,” he added.
Mr. Balachandra said the elephant travelled from Madhumalai to Bandipur and strayed into human habitation. “We have been told that the T.N. authorities lost contact with the it a few days ago owing to a battery issue in the tracking collar,” he said, adding that the T.N. Forest Department authorities had been told about the incident. “As they cannot conduct the operation to capture the jumbo outside their State, the task will be carried out by us on Wednesday,” he said.
