Wild tusker caught in Nagarahole barricade rescued, radio collar made it easy to track animal

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: Forest officials have rescued a 30-year-old wild tusker which was trapped between cement barricades installed by the department at Mudaganur lake near Veeranahosahalli in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve of Nagarahole forest in Hunsur taluk in the wee hours of Sunday. They drove the wild tusker back into the woods after rescuing it from its trap. The elephant had wandered into farmlands and caused significant crop damage in the last 15 days. It was stuck in the barricades while attempting to return to the forest.

Based on the signals from the radio collar it wore and information from the public, Nagarahole DCF Seema and ACF Lakshmikanth arrived at the exact spot and used an earthmover to dislodge the cement barricades and safely release the animal Later speaking to reporters, Nagarahole DCF Seema said that a radio collar was installed on the elephant in 2021 and it was named Nagarahole elephant -1. The installation of radio collars not only helps department officers to track its movement but also in rescuing the animals in such situations, she said.

So far, 10 elephants have been fitted with radio collars in the state. Chattisgarh, Maharashtra and several other governments have submitted a proposal to the union government to fund the installation of radio collars, she said. Veeranahosahalli Range Forest Officer Abhishekh said that the cement barricade near Mudaganur lake which was damaged in the wild tusker trap and rescue operation, will be repaired and replaced with new barriers.