Viral video shows bleeding Dasara elephant Arjuna’s last fight with rogue elephant

TUMAKURU: Almost two months after Dasara elephant Arjuna died in a fight with a rogue elephant in the Dabballikatte forest area of Sakleshpur, a video of the tussle between the two elephants has now gone viral on social media. In the video, a bleeding Arjuna can be seen putting up a brave fight with the wild elephant before succumbing.

The video also highlights the alleged negligence of the Forest Department. A member of the elephant task force who was part of the operation and had shot the video, was also allegedly threatened not the share the video anywhere. But now, the same video with the name of the ETS staffer, has gone viral, raising questions about the motive.

With the increased elephant menace in the district, the state government issued orders to radio-collar nine elephants and to translocate six of them. Accordingly, an operation was launched on November 24 last year with Dasara elephant Arjuna and six other elephants. Three female elephants and three tuskers were radio-collared in Belur taluk.

On December 4, the ETF was scheduled to capture a rogue elephant, but the operation was suddenly shifted to Sakleshpur where elephants to be captured had been identified. Even as the operation was on, a rogue elephant was spotted in Dabballikatte forest range. The Forest officials then diverted their attention to capturing the rogue elephant. This was one of the main reasons for Arjuna’s death.

When the rogue elephant attacked Arjuna, the veterinarian misfired and the tranquiliser dart hit Dasara elephant Prashant. Meanwhile, the four other tamed elephants retreated. Arjuna’s mahout Vinu then rushed to Prashant’s aid when elephant Abhimanyu’s assistant mahout and another staffer climbed on to Arjuna and attempted to push back the rogue elephant. After noticing the rogue elephant’s attack, the Forest staff and the veterinarians too retreated.

However, Arjuna continued to put up a fight with the rogue elephant and sustained injuries. The bleeding Arjuna could not hold on for long and finally lost his life. The fight was recorded on a mobile phone by ETF staffer Praveen, but he was strictly warned not the share the video. Now, the video is circulating with his name on it, raising many questions.