Elephants locked in fight in Belur village; estate owner trampled to death in Ponnampet taluk

HASSAN, MADIKERI: Two tuskers engaged in a fight in front of a house at Hullemakki village in Belur taluk on Monday, causing anxiety among villagers. The two elephants, locally named ‘Narahantaka Karadi’ (man-eating bear) and ‘Captain’, have been engaging in fights over the last three days.

On Monday, the two elephants got into a fight in front of the house of Younus, following which the Forest Department was alerted. The elephant task force (ETF) personnel had a tough time in driving away the two elephants by bursting crackers before they could cause any damage to property.

The elephant task force personnel managed to chase away the tuskers by bursting crackers.

Meanwhile, an estate owner died on the spot after he was trampled upon by an elephant on the Chamundi Muthappa Kolli road in Biruga village of Ponnampet taluk in Kodagu district on Monday. The deceased was identified as 50-year-old Ayyamada Madaiah (Bogga) and the incident occurred when he was on his way to his estate.

More than 40 elephants are said to have camped in different estates, making lives difficult for farmers, coffee growers and estate owners. Several representations to the Forest Department have not borne any results, locals complained.