Daijiworld Media Network – Kadaba (MS)

Kadaba, Feb 28: It is said that the elephant catch operation which was going on to catch the wild elephants at Renjiladi after a wild tusker killed two people is called off.

Five tamed elephants were called from Dubare and Nagarahole camps to catch the wild elephants as the locals protested against the inaction of forest department and local administration.

One wild elephant was captured and was sent to Mathigodu elephant camp along with two trained elephants. The rest three tamed elephants left Kadaba on the night of February 26.

Raghavendra, zonal forest officer of Subramanya said, “We have not received any complaints by villagers about the presents of wild tuskers. So the trained elephants were sent to Operation tiger at Madikeri.”

However, the residents of Renjiladi are anguished at the lacklustre attitude of the forest department. They said, “Elephants are destroying crops at Noojibalthila, Renjiladi, Konaje, Kombaru and Siribagilu areas. We are living in fear. There is no one to hear our grievances. One elephant is captured. Rest of the elephants are still roaming in residential areas. The deputy commissioner himself had said that the wild elephants will be captured. Now they have suddenly stopped the operation.”

Meanwhile, herd of seven elephants was seen on the night of Monday at Sakotejalu of Renjiladi village. Locals informed that the herd contains four grown up and three baby elephants. Forest department officials are informed and they visited the spot.