Forest dept ropes in five tamed elephants to capture two wild jumbos

HASSAN: THE Forest Department has decided to capture two wild elephants often creating panic among the villagers in parts of Alur and Sakleshpur taluks on Saturday. Five tamed elephants to take part in the operation will join the makeshift camp set up near Halebelur village in Sakleshpur taluk by Friday night. The tamed elephants have already started the journey with mahouts from Nagarahole elephant camp on Friday morning. A team of doctors including Dr Manjunath and Venkatesh -- tranquilizer experts -- will present at the camp. The doctors have to medicate the elephant to bring them back to normalcy after tranquilization. Range forest officers, foresters, guards and forest watchers are camping with water tankers, rope and vehicles to bring the captured elephant to the camp.

The captured elephant will be transported to elephant camps in Nagarahole or Dubare elephant camps after they return to normalcy. Chief conservator of forest Jayaram and deputy conservator of forest Manjunath will supervise the operation. Sources said the forest officials have brought acepromazine and immobilon (ectropion hydrocholoride), the costly drugs used in tranquilising the elephants and handed them over to the doctors. It may be recalled that the forest department had postponed the operation since six months due to shortage of drugs as Indian Drug Control Board which reportedly had banned importing of high dose sedative drug. Statistics available with the Express reveal that the department has captured and transported 28 wild elephants to different elephant safaris in the state from Alur and Sakleshpur taluks in the district.

Krishnegowda, a farmer from Kerodi, one of the worst affected villages in Sakleshpur taluk, said the forest officials should continue operation to capture all the elephants roaming in the area. The government should release enough grants for the purpose, he added. According to DFO Manjunath, the department will capture two elephants in the first phase and steps will be taken to capture the rest if the government gives permission. Precautionary measures will be taken against elephants entering into human habitats in the worst-hit areas, he added.