Tusker that killed forest watcher captured

HASSAN: In an operation launched on Sunday, forest officers captured the lone tusker that had entered the city on July 6 and created panic among the residents. The elephant with a single tusk had attacked and killed forest watcher Annegowda, 53, a week ago.
The operation, assisted by Dasara elephants Krishna and Abhimanyu and three other elephants Harsha, Vikrama and Ajay from Dubare elephant camp near Kushalnagar, began at 7am at Seegegudda forest area which is about 10km from Hassan city. A contingent of around 50 forest staff including officers and veterinary surgeons followed the footprints of the tusker in Seegegudda and traced its location at around 10am at Doddamaane in Shivapura Kaaval after travelling a distance of around 7km.
Upon seeing Dasara elephant Abhimanyu the targeted tusker became furious and got into a fight with it, said the officials. Then, at around 11.30am, the team of veterinary surgeons including Mahesh, Nagaraju and others took position to fire tranquillizer darts. The jumbo was shot with five darts. After it became drowsy, the group of mahouts and foresters tied ropes around its neck and one of the rear legs. Then, the tied elephant was made to walk around 5km from its captured location as there was no path for the truck meant for its translocation.
Deputy conservator of forest (DCF) Shivaram Babu said the lone tusker had come from Bhadra Wild Life Sanctuary of Chikkamagalur after it got separated from the herd.
The loading of the captured tusker onto the truck started in the evening. The jumbo would be taken to Dubare elephant camp.