Indian gaur herd spotted by roadside near Chikkmagalur village

CHIKKAMAGALUR, HASSAN: A herd of Indian gaur was spotted by the side of a road in Bettadamaradi village in the taluk on Friday. Villagers, already troubled by elephant herds, have expressed apprehension over the movement of the gaur herd.

The herd was said to be moving towards human habitation and villagers feared that they may attack humans. Herds of Indian gaur have been spotted many times in the past, they said and added that they feared attacks on plantation workers or other labourers.

Locals made an attempt to drive the herd back into the forest, but in vain. Despite informing the Forest Department, there was no positive response, they claimed.

A youth on a motorcycle had a narrow escape after he encountered the elephant on the road.

Meanwhile, in another incident, a motorcycle-borne youth had a narrow escape after an elephant blocked the road near Jedigadde village in Sakleshpur taluk. The youth dumped his vehicle and fled.

In a video shot by the youth himself, he can be heard panting while the elephant ambles along the road for a while looking back at him a couple of times.