An elephant was spotted near Hosahalli in Malavalli taluk of the district on Wednesday.
The wild animal was also seen by residents at B.T. Koppalu and A.P. Doddi villages in the taluk in the recent days, sources at the Forest Department said. Alerted by the village residents, Forest Department officials visited Hosahalli and tried to direct the elephant towards forest areas near Shivanasamudra by bursting firecrackers. The elephant might have got separated from a herd and entered human habitat, officials said.