Kodagu (Karnataka), March 13 The wild elephant that caused the death of a 49-year-old coffee farmer was captured on Friday by the Forest Department in a coordinated operation, officials said.
Ganapathi was trampled to death by the same wild elephant on Thursday afternoon when he went to his coffee plantation near Siddapura in the Virajpet taluk of the Kodagu district, they said.
The elephant had been damaging crops in coffee plantations and had created fear among workers, planters, and school students in the area, officials said.
Following Ganapathi's death, local people and elected representatives had staged protests demanding that the elephant be captured.
According to officials, acting swiftly, the Forest Department launched an operation early in the morning with the assistance of six trained elephants from the Dubare Elephant Camp.
The wild elephant was first spotted in the Ammathi area of the Virajpet taluk and started running away when it saw the trained elephants.
It was later seen in a coffee plantation near Pollibetta and was eventually located in another plantation.
Officials said that the Forest personnel chased the animal for nearly nine kilometers with the help of the trained elephants.
Sharp shooter Ranjan and veterinarian Dr. Ramesh later tranquilized the elephant using a dart gun and provided necessary care, a senior forest department official said.
With the assistance of the trained elephants, the animal was then secured, he said.
The captured elephant was later shifted to the Mathigodu elephant camp, he added.