Jumbos involved in man-animal conflict captured

Lockdown delays exercise leading to rise in human-elephant confrontation; six killed in elephant attacks since January

The Forest Department successfully captured two tuskers, known for causing trouble in parts of Sakleshpur and Alur taluks, on Thursday. The recent deaths of people in elephant attacks had forced the department to capture the tuskers, nicknamed Gunda and Mountain. As many as six people died in elephant attacks since this January. The department began the operation early on Thursday. Watchers and other field staff spotted Mountain and succeeded in captuing it after tranquillising it. By evening, Gunda was also captured. Veterinarians, who were part of the team at the spot, fired tranquillisers, following which the animal was captured with the help of tame elephants. Forest officers have decided to release Gunda at M.M. Hills after tying a radio collar around its neck and take Mountain to Cauvery Nisarga Dhama in Kodagu.