Man escapes elephant attack by whisker at motocross event on forest fringe

HASSAN: A man escaped death by a whisker after a tusker charged at him where an unauthorised motocross event was organised on the fringes of the Holesalu forest near Bellur village in Sakleshpur taluk on Sunday.

The tusker emerged from the forest, perhaps disturbed by the noise.

The motocross even was organised without the permission of the Forest Department and about 10 jeeps, including from Kerala, were participating in the event. Suddenly, the elephant emerged from the forest and started chasing a man while trumpeting. Luckily for him, he fell into a ditch and as other people started shouting and running towards him, the elephant retreated.

The motocross event was held without permission.

The unidentified individual, who hails from Kerala, sustained minor injuries and was treated at a hospital. It is believed that the elephant may have been disturbed by the sound of the vehicles. Locals vented their anger at the revenue and forest officials for allowing such an event at the forest fringes.