Two tuskers which had strayed out of Bannerghatta National Park (BNP), and were responsible for the death of a person at Appenahalli village in Channarayapatna taluk, Hassan district recently, were driven away from the district on Wednesday.
However, the tuskers, after being driven away from Hassan entered Mandya district and were found at a farm in Lalanakere, near Nagamangala.
Forest department personnel of Hassan succeeded in driving away the elephants, after an operation that had lasted for more than a week. Prior to the death of a person on Sunday, the elephants were spotted in various taluks of Hassan district. According to officials, the elephants had entered the district via Tumkur. Following the death of a person, department personnel had intensified the operation to drive them away.
On Tuesday, the two elephants were spotted at Gulihonnenahalli near Hirisave, Hassan district. They were driven towards Nagamangala in Mandya district.
While the operation ensured that residents of Hirisave and surrounding villages breathed a sigh of relief, it has raised concerns among villagers near Nagamangala, where the tuskers were spotted during the day.
Assistant Conservator of Forests, Mandya, Narasimhaiah said that six elephants had come out of BNP about two months ago. Of these, four had been driven back to the forest. The elephants were first spotted in Maddur, before they moved towards Hassan district.
He said that department would drive the tuskers away towards Bannerghatta, via Huliyur Durga and Channapatna.Meanwhile, alerts were issued to residents of surrounding villages about the elephants to prevent any mishaps. Department personnel have also been deputed to patrol the area.