‘Veda’, a wild elephant, killed a labourer in Gonikoppa coffee plantations. The tusker, believed to be around 40 years old, was captured during a four-hour operation. The operation, involving over 60 staff and seven camp elephants, took four hours. The capture team included seven elephants from Mathigodu, Dubare, and Harangi camps. Despite the captured elephant’s occasional aggressive behaviour, the team maintained control. By 5 pm, they successfully loaded it onto a truck using a crane for transport to Dubare. The medical team, comprising Dr Chittiyappa, Dr Ramesh, and Dr Ranjith, administered tranquillisers to manage the elephant’s aggression. The elephant, initially hiding in the forest, moved to Devarakadu within Devarapur Panchayat boundaries by the afternoon. Seven elephants from wildlife camps participated in the operation, successfully guiding the elephant to a designated area. The captured elephant was taken to a wildlife camp.
