Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (MS)

Beltangady, Jun 15: The lone tusker, which was spotted on Charmadi Ghat multiple times last month, has been seen again by motorists over the past two days.

The tusker obstructed a KSRTC bus on Wednesday night. On Friday afternoon, it was seen by the roadside. Typically, this elephant is sighted at the third bend of the ghat, but on Friday, it was observed in front of the gate of the forest department's medicinal plants protection area. The elephant remained in the same spot for over an hour, causing fear among motorists that it might break through the gate and enter the road. Eventually, forest department officials managed to guide the tusker back into the forest.

Traffic on the ghat was disrupted for more than half an hour on Thursday when the tusker stood across the road between the seventh and eighth bends. On Friday, it was seen at a lower part of the ghat, around four kilometres from where it was spotted on Thursday night.

Sightings of this tusker have become common on the ghat over the past two months. So far, it has not attacked any vehicles or passers-by. It typically feeds and then returns to the forest. However, motorists remain apprehensive, as there is a concern that the elephant could become aggressive, especially if it enters a state of musth.