Belthangady: Lone elephant spotted close to human habitations in Neria

Belthangady: Fear gripped residents of Neria and adjoining villages, as a wild elephant was seen roaming close to human habitations in Aniyur on Monday, December 12.

This is despite the forest officials holding an operation to drive the jumbos in the region back to the forests.  On Sunday night, the patrolling team came across a lone elephant in the Barre area of Thotattadi and it was driven into the forest by bursting firecrackers.

However, at around 6.45 am on Monday, the lone elephant was spotted about 7 km away walking under the bridge at Aniyur in Neria.

Passersby shot a video of the jumbo and it has since gone viral on social media.

Lack of fireworks to drive away elephants

The area has been facing conflicts with wild animals. Elephants regularly barge into the agricultural fields in Thotattadi, Bare, Kuntadi, Agari Kukkaje, Muddinadka, and nearby areas. from nearby jungles and destroy the produce. Though firecrackers are used to drive them away, the problem is so acute that the forest department is running out of stock of firecrackers.