A tiger-tracking operation in Karnataka took an unexpected turn on Friday night (November 7, 2025) when an elephant deployed by forest officials strayed into a nearby town, causing panic among residents.
The elephant, which was part of a forest department team conducting tracking and monitoring activities, lost its way and entered residential areas near the Periyapatna forest range, as per initial reports.
Residents Panic as Elephant Wanders Through Town
Locals were startled to find the elephant roaming the streets. Several people reportedly rushed indoors, while vehicles were halted to prevent accidents.
Forest department officials and police teams quickly arrived at the scene to guide the animal back toward the forest area.
No casualties were reported, but minor property damage occurred as the elephant brushed past parked vehicles and small shops.
Part of Ongoing Tiger-Tracking Operation
The elephant had been brought to assist forest rangers in tracking a tiger believed to be moving close to human settlements in the region. Such trained elephants are commonly used by wildlife authorities for tracking, tranquilization, and monitoring operations in dense forests.
A senior forest department official stated that the animal got separated from the main team due to noise and human disturbance during the late evening hours.
The situation was later brought under control after officials, with the help of mahouts, safely guided the elephant back to the forest zone.
Human-Wildlife Conflict Concerns
This incident highlights the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in parts of Karnataka, where forest boundaries overlap with agricultural and residential areas.
Authorities have been working to balance wildlife protection efforts with community safety through tracking operations, awareness programs, and patrol teams.
Wildlife experts emphasize the importance of maintaining buffer zones and using technology like GPS collars to prevent such occurrences.
Key Points:
Trained elephant strayed into a Karnataka town during tiger-tracking.
Panic among residents; no injuries reported.
Officials managed to return the animal safely to the forest.
Incident underscores challenges in forest-human cohabitation.
Conclusion
The tiger-tracking mission may have briefly gone off track, but quick action by forest officials prevented a major incident.
As Karnataka continues to strengthen its wildlife monitoring systems, this event serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between conservation efforts and community safety.
Published on : 8th November
Published by : SMITA
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Source Credit:
This article is based on a report by Deepak Bopanna and edited by Akash Majumder, originally published by Asian News International (ANI).