Female elephant travels 150 km in a day in search of dead calf

CHIKKAMAGALUR: A female elephant travelled 150 km from Polibetta in Kodagu district to Gonibeedu in Mudigere taluk in search of its calf after it was chased away by people. Incidentally, the calf had died a few months ago.

The movement of the female elephant, known as ‘Old Belt’ was tracked with the help of a radio collar around its neck. It had been chased from Polibetta on Monday morning and had reached Gonibeedu by evening. It was traced to Lakshmi Estate on the Belur-Mudigere border.

Meanwhile, Forest Department officials managed to tranquilise one of four elephants in the Bilukoppa forest near Khandya in NR Pura taluk and capture it. The herd has been responsible for two deaths over the last four days.

A team of veterinarians and sharpshooters from Mysuru, Shivamogga and Kodagu have been tracking the four elephants which have strayed from Bidara in Shivamogga district. After the deaths, villagers had vented their anger at the Forest department.