Kodagu forest officials hand over cheque for Rs 15 lakh to family of wild elephant attack victim

MADIKERI: The Kodagu forest department officials handed over a compensation cheque of Rs 15 lakh to the family of Thammanna, a 67-year-old tribal from Yadavanadukuppe in Somwarpet taluk, who was trampled to death by an elephant recently.

The cheque was handed over to Thammanna’s mother, Boji, by ACF A A Gopal. The compensation was provided following the direction of local MLA Dr Manthar Gowda.

The officials advised the family to use the compensation amount for a good cause. They also warned the tribals living in the reserve forest to be cautious about elephant attacks and not to venture into the forest. In case of a wild elephant sighting, they should immediately inform the forest department staff, they were told. Elephants that attack humans will be captured and rehabilitated.

Somwarpet Range Forest Officer Shailendra Kumar, Thammanna’s brother Annaiah and local residents were present during the cheque handover event.