Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (MS)

Beltangady, Nov 22: A father and his two children narrowly escaped an attack by a wild elephant while on their way to school on a motorbike on November 21 at Shibaje near here.

Vasantha Gowda, a resident of Kallaje in Shishila village, was taking his nine-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son to school in Perla around 8:30 am on Thursday. As they turned onto the main road, a lone tusker suddenly appeared and charged at them. Vasantha managed to flee with his children. However, the tusker damaged the motorbike using its trunk and feet.

Forest department officials arrived at the scene upon receiving information and took Vasantha and his children to the hospital. Raghavendra, the zonal forest officer of Uppinangady, visited the hospital and assured Vasantha of appropriate compensation from the forest department.

This is the second wild tusker attack reported in the taluk. A few months ago, a lone tusker attacked a car, though all seven passengers inside managed to escape. Local residents have urged the forest department to take measures to prevent such incidents involving wild elephants.