Maharashtra, Karnataka slug it out over six animals
SIX wild elephants in Maharashtra have braved it all--firecrackers, drums, burning torches and chilli powder. But they won't leave their home for anything in the world. The elephants belong to the Dandeli forest in Karnataka. They crossed borders in 2002 and have been living in Maharashtra ever since. The state's forest department has used every ploy possible to drive the elephants back to their home in Belgaum district in Karnataka, but to little avail.
Twenty elephants had migrated in 2002. Fourteen returned the following year, but the remaining six decided they liked their new environment better and chose to stay on. Now, after seven years, Maharashtra has come up with a new idea, which it implemented from January 10--to tranquillize the elephants and transport them to the border in large trucks.
"The elephants would be tranquillized and released about 150 metres from the Karnataka border," said N Zurmure, deputy conservator of forest (Sawantwadi), Sindhudurg in Maharashtra. He said deep trenches had been dug and a concrete wall, electric fences and iron gates had been erected along the border to ensure the released elephants stayed within limit.
| Elephant trail | |
| In the last six years the herd in Sindhudurg has |