Straying elephants enter HD Kote town

Early morning walkers and those busy distributing newspapers had the shock of their lives on Tuesday, when they saw four tuskers moving into the town. Beginning Sunday, the elephants have created havoc in the taluk, after an eight-member herd was found camping at Chikkereyuru village.

While the Forest department personnel succeeded in driving four elephants back into the forest the same night, four others remained elusive. Their efforts turned futile as the jumbos left the place, walked over 20 km, only to reach the town. 

The jumbos, which entered the petrol bunk belonging to former minister M Shivanna, pushed multi-utility vehicle (MUV) parked on the premises.

They also flung fire extinguishers kept at the bunk, creating fear among the workers. The herd later crossed the Taraka river and camped at a banana plantation.

Police swung into action by making a raucous sound around the herd, to ensure that the jumbos did not return to the town. 

By 10 am, the forest officials began their operation to drive the elephants back into the forest. The tuskers, which emerged from the banana plantation, entered the sugar cane field belonging to former legislator N Nagaraju at 4 pm.

The officials ensured that the route was zero traffic on Belaganahalli road, before driving the elephants away.

According to forest department officials, all the four elephants reached Hebbala reservoir and were found camping at a field at Devalapura village.

V Karikalan, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Territorial) Mysuru division, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Basvaraju, and other officials were camping in the town to drive the elephants back into the forests by night.