From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network - Madikeri (SP)

Madikeri, Nov 15: The forest department staff have succeeded in catching hold of a wild elephant that had camped in Beetikadu coffee plantation near Siddapur in the district. This elephant, which had taken away lives of two female workers of this plantation and was known to attack line houses of workers inside the plantation at nights, had been giving sleepless nights to a large number of people. After the people came together and staged protest, demanding immediate capture of this elephant, it stands chained.

During the search operations conducted since early morning on Monday, this 20-year-old elephant was found to have joined two other elephants. After shooting syringes filled with anesthesia drugs, the elephant was neutralized and captured. The elephant was then controlled with the help of three domesticated elephants, it was brought under control and taken in a truck to Dubare elephant camp in the district.

Since the last two days, forest department officers and subordinate staff had roamed around the forests and plantations and returned exhuasted, without tasting any success. Finally it was found from a coffee plantation on Monday.

Principal chief conservator of forests of wildlife division, Jayaram, said that the department had got permission to catch four wild elephants. Two have been caught, one from near Chattalli, and another from near Siddapur. The staff have been searching for the other two wild elephants inside coffee plantations. The elephant now caught would be tamed and trained at Dubare camp, he explained.

He said that the department hopes to solve the problem of wild elephant menace shortly, as it has drawn up plans to address this issue.

Chief conservator of forests, Manoj Kumar, and forest officials, Yedukondalu, Sooryasen, Chinnappa Nehru, Gopal range forest officer, Devaiah, and others had taken part in the operation.