Wild elephant spotted in Mandya

An elephant was sighted near Hosahalli in Malavalli taluk of the district early 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 villagers, forest department officials visited Hosahalli and tried to direct the elephant towards forest areas near Shivanasamudra by bursting firecrackers.

The elephant might have been separated from a herd and entered human habitat, forest officials said.