Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, May 8: The forest department is making efforts to make sure that the second gaur that had entered the city and had given rise to panic in the citizens besides turning anxious itself, is guided towards the forest area.
The gaur which was taking rest at Kulur reached an area housing thick mangroves near Jokatte that belongs to NMPT next to Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd on Thursday. In the morning, people began to move around. Therefore the forest department staff, instead of trying to chase it away into the forests, allowed it to have rest. The forest staff continued to keep an eye on the animal and to make sure that it does not return into the city.
At night, the staff conducted an operation to send it towards Thokur. As Thokur is lined up with forest, open ground and small shrubs, the gaur in all likelihood may itself proceed towards its final destination. It is planned to install cameras on the route through which the gaur has passed and it would be ensured that it reaches safe spot, said range forest officer Sridhar.
Forest officials believe that the two gaurs would have strayed and entered the city and their habitats may be near Badaga Yekkar or Bajpe. They said they keep getting calls from the public who claim to have seen gaurs in that area.
The department is now trying to see that the gaur on its own goes back into the forest, taking cue from its earlier effort of catching the other gaur and releasing it into the forest area at Charmadi having culminated in its death.