Udupi’s 72-Hour Tension Ends: Wild Elephant Captured After Days of Panic in Siddapur and Surrounding Areas
June 6, 2025 | Udupi, Karnataka
UDUPI — After three days of escalating panic, disrupted livelihoods, and closed schools, a wild elephant that had strayed into human settlements in the Siddapur-Hosangadi-Kamalashile corridor of Udupi district has finally been captured alive by the Forest Department in a meticulously coordinated operation on Thursday evening.
The 12-year-old male tusker, which had previously been radio-collared and relocated from Hassan to the Bhadra Tiger Reserve, had wandered off from its herd, triggering fear and chaos across multiple panchayats in the region.
An Elephant’s Journey from the Wild to the Streets
The elephant’s intrusion began earlier this week when it was sighted near Kamalashile temple forests, steadily inching into residential zones. With food and water scarce in summer-hit forests, experts believe the elephant may have been foraging for crops and water, ultimately losing its way.
Its sheer size and unpredictability forced authorities to order early shutdowns of shops (by 6:30 PM) and the temporary closure of schools and colleges, affecting daily life across three villages. Panic escalated after it reportedly damaged fences, trampled fields, and blocked access roads in the area.
The Operation: High Stakes, High Precision
Led by Shivaram M Babu, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Kudremukh Wildlife Division, a 150-member task force was mobilized, including:
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Officers from Kudremukh Wildlife Division
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Forest guards and watchers from local Udupi forest stations
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Elephant Task Force specialists from Chikkamagaluru
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Three trained kumkis (tamed elephants) from Sakrebail Elephant Camp, Shivamogga
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A veterinary team of three wildlife specialists
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Support from local police and traffic control units
The operation was monitored using the elephant’s GPS-enabled radio collar, which had been fitted during its earlier relocation — a decision that proved invaluable in tracking its movement through thick underbrush and plantation terrain.
“We administered a tranquiliser of 1.2 ml, which took effect within 20 minutes,” said DCF Shivaram. “The capture was executed without any injury to the animal or the team. It was a textbook example of how radio-collaring and real-time wildlife tracking can save both human and animal lives.”
Public Safety First
To ensure the operation went off without a hitch, the Siddapur-Hosangadi road stretch was sealed from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
Public announcements were made in the affected areas to warn residents, restrict movement, and prevent panic. Drone surveillance was also briefly used to monitor crowd activity and maintain a buffer around the operation site.
Udupi Deputy Commissioner Vidya Kumari K praised the coordination between departments.
“The public’s cooperation made this mission possible. We’re relieved to report that no injuries or property loss occurred. We’ve also issued directives to the Forest Department to prepare a long-term conflict mitigation plan,” she added.
From Conflict to Care: Elephant Sent for Rehabilitation
Following the capture, the elephant was carefully loaded onto a specially designed forest truck and transported late Thursday night to Sakrebail Elephant Camp, a well-equipped center known for handling distressed or conflict-prone elephants.
Veterinarians will monitor the animal’s vitals, behavior, and stress levels over the coming weeks before determining whether it can be reintegrated into a controlled habitat or kept in captivity for its and public safety.
“It’s too early to decide if re-release is safe,” said one senior vet. “We will assess its physical health and behavioral aggression levels before making any recommendations.”
Why Udupi is Seeing More Human-Elephant Encounters
The incident highlights a broader trend across the Western Ghats — increasing human-elephant conflict, driven by:
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Shrinking forest cover
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Encroachment of elephant corridors
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Unplanned infrastructure projects
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Climate-linked water and crop shortages
Wildlife NGOs have called for urgent demarcation of elephant corridors, especially in the Kundapura and Agumbe belts, to facilitate safe passage between forest patches.
Policy-Level Push for Prevention
The Karnataka Forest Department has now proposed:
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Installation of solar-powered elephant barriers
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Community-based early warning systems
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Compensation automation for crop damage
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More widespread use of radio collars with geo-fencing alerts
Local farmers have also demanded quick insurance settlements for losses during the tusker’s intrusion — a demand Udupi district officials are currently reviewing.
Conclusion
The successful capture of the wild tusker in Udupi is a testament to technology-aided conservation and interdepartmental coordination. But it’s also a wake-up call — a reminder that wildlife conservation must now extend beyond forests into the borders of human habitats.
The forest may have gone silent again tonight, but the message is loud and clear: Coexistence must be planned, not left to chance.