HASSAN : Forest minister Eshwar Khandre on Sunday said Dasara elephant Arjuna did not have any bullet wounds on its body as alleged by some persons and that a team of retired forest officials will investigate incidents surrounding the jumbo’s death.
Forest department officials also released footage of the Dec 4 operation near Yeslur in Sakleshpur taluk, which was aimed at capturing rampaging wild elephants. Arjuna was gored by a wild tusker during the operation and died later. A mahout had claimed Arjuna was inadvertently tranquilised and that had put him at a disadvantage in the fight.
After paying his respects at Arjuna’s grave in Daballikatte, Hassan district, Khandre said the team will submit a report in two weeks and the department would take a decision based on it. He insisted there were no lapses on the part of department staffers during the operation.
He said Arjuna’s memorial will be built at the burial site and at Balle elephant camp in Nagarhole tiger reserve where Arjuna lived.
Vet corroborates KhandreNagarahole veterinarian Dr H Ramesh, who was present during the combing operation and the autopsy, also said Arjuna died due to injuries inflicted by the wild elephant.
Ramesh said he was seated on the back of Arjuna, while deputy range forest officer Ranjan and a sharpshooter were on Prashantha, another elephant. He said four people, including Arjuna’s mahout Vinu and him were on Arjuna’s back when the wild tusker charged.
“We had loaded the tranquilizer doses to dart the wild elephants, but I couldn’t shoot at the one which charged Arjuna since I didn’t have a shot at the shoulder or thigh. If darted in the trunk, head, or stomach, it could harm the tusker,” Ramesh said.
He said it was Prashantha which was accidentally darted. “All four of us lost balance when Arjuna was attacked, and in the melee the trigger of the tranquilizing gun was depressed. The dart hit Prashantha,” he said.
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