The Forest Department has sought the permission of the State government to capture eight more elephants, which are frequenting human habitats in Alur taluk. Earlier, the department had got permission to capture 25 elephants. Of them, 22 had been captured last year.
Following a series of protests by the people of Alur and Sakleshpur taluks, the department had captured wild elephants. Last year, the department caught 22 elephants and the capturing operation had to be stopped due to rains. “We have clearance for capturing three elephants. However, there are eight more elephants troubling the local people. We have sought government’s permission to capture them as well,” Ganesh S. Bhat, Deputy Conservator of Forests, told The Hindu on Thursday.
If permitted, the department would initiate measures to capture all 11 elephants at one-go. “Instead of conducting the operation twice, we can capture all of them at one-go, which will also minimise the expenses,” he said.