Elephant gets caught under rail track fence in Kushalnagar village, freed by Forest dept staff

MADIKERI: A wild elephant roaming in the forest had got stuck under a rail track fence erected near a coffee estate at Valnur Thyagathur village in Kushalnagar taluk. The elephant was later freed by the Forest Department staff.

The forest staff loosened the bolts of one of the rails to help the animal get up.

The elephant was trying to enter human habitation, presumably in search of food, when it got stuck under the rail track fence. Unable to move or free itself, the elephant lay struggling for a long time. The estate workers, who noticed the elephant, immediately alerted the Forest Department.

The elephants was soon back on its feet and headed back towards the river.

The Forest Department staff, who arrived at the estate, loosened the bolts of one of the rail track after which the elephant managed to free itself and walked away. Locals say elephants routinely cross the Cauvery river near Ammangala village from the forest and enter coffee estates. Due to this, labourers work in fear, they said.