Karnataka Forest Department captures tusker in Belur of Hassan district

Forest Department captures trouble-causing tusker in Belur taluk with tamed elephants, following recent elephant attacks and protests.

Shivamogga:

The Forest Department staff captured a trouble-causing tusker with the help of tamed elephants at a private estate in Halligadde of Belur taluk in Hassan district on Sunday (March 16, 2025). The Elephant Task Force (ETF) conducted the elephant capture operation following the protests by people of Belur in the wake of recent deaths in elephant attacks.

The staff of the ETF and rapid response teams kept a track of elephants that caused trouble in Arehalli hobli of the taluk. They identified one among them to capture on the day. A veterinarian fired the tranquilizer dart to sedate the animal. Later, it was captured with the help of a team of tamed elephants.

Tamed elephants — Prashantha, Mahendra, Ekalavya, Dhananjaya, Harsha and Bheema — were involved in the operation. Senior officers of the department monitored the operation, which will continue for a few more days.

The department decided to conduct the operation after a woman died in an elephant attack at Kogodu in Belur taluk on Friday (March 14, 2025). The incident led to protests by local people. This was the fourth death in elephant attacks in Hassan district in the last two months. Eshwar Khandre, Minister for Forests, instructed the officers to capture trouble-causing three elephants immediately.