Operation to radio-collar elephants halted after Arjuna’s death, to resume after 10 days

HASSAN: A day after Dasara elephant Arjuna was cremated in the forest after it died during an operation to radio-collar wild elephants, the exercise was suspended on Wednesday. The tamed elephants were also sent back to their camps.

The operation was launched on November 24 to radio collar nine elephants and relocate six of them. So far, three elephants have been radio-collared and three tuskers relocated. The operation was being carried out with tamed elephants Arjuna, Prashanth, Karnataka Bhima, Sugreeva, Ashwathama and Dhananjaya.

Dasara elephant Arjuna died during the operation, reportedly during a fight with a wild tusker. However, the mahout Vinu has claimed that the elephant was shot in the leg mistakenly by the Forest Department staff. Arjuna was cremated in the Dabballikatte forest area in Yeslur hobli of Sakleshpur taluk with full state honours on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “Arjuna carried the golden howdah on eight occasions. It is tragic that the elephant died and I have ordered for a probe. A memorial will be built at the place where Arjuna died and also in HD Kote taluk”.

On Wednesday, puja was done to the remaining elephants before the headed back to their camps at the temporary camp near Bikkodu in Belur taluk. Chief Conservator of Forests Ravishankar, Deputy Conservator of Forests Mohan Kumar and Assistant Conservator of Forest Mahadev participated in the puja.

“We are sending the elephants back to their camps and will resume the operation after 10 days. All the mahouts and kavadis are grieving over Arjuna’s death and they have been away from their homes for the last two weeks. We were to radio-collar nine elephants and so far, five have been radio collared. We will surely complete the operation”, said CCF Ravishankar.

Chief Conservator of Forests Ravikumar.

On suspicion that Arjuna was shot in the leg by the Forest staff, the CCF said the post-mortem examination was conducted by Dr Girish of the Hassan veterinary college in full public view. “The doctor had checked the elephant thoroughly and all its four legs were seen. The post-mortem examination was conducted as per standard procedure and there was no interference. We will anyway investigate the claims of the people”, the CCF added.

The CCF consoling Arjuna’s mahout Vinu.

Meanwhile, Arjuna’s mahout Vinu was unconsolable. “It was around 12.30-1 pm when we reached the place and we spotted the wild tusker, but it was not darted. Maybe Arjuna would have been alive now if the wild tusker was darted. Arjuna had fought the tusker and the latter ran back for about 300 metres. When Arjuna was hit with a bullet and got a stump in his foot, he lost strength. While firing at the wild elephant, they shot my elephant”, he claimed.

Between sobs, Vinu said, “The staff misfired and darted elephant Prashanth. I got off Arjuna since the wild tusker had run away and ran to give water to Prashanth. By the time I returned, Arjuna was dead. We had gone on many operations and captured tigers and elephants, but now he is cremated. The people of Mysuru loved Arjuna. I was with Arjuna since 2015-16 and we carried the golden howdah thrice”.

Vinu also said that his parents and children haven’t eaten since Arjuna’s death. “How will I face my parents? Give me back my elephant. I spoke to my family members on phone and my children haven’t gone to school. If the bell around Arjuna’s neck rang, my children would feed him jaggery. Why didn’t God take my life instead? Arjuna would not allow any wild elephants near our shed when we were sleeping. He would wake up before us. The authorities should build a memorial for Arjuna and ensure safety of the other elephants”, he said.