D.B. Kuppe/Mysuru:  Senior IFS Officer, Conservator of Forests and Director of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, S. Manikandan (46), was killed by a wild tusker in the D.B. Kuppe Range of Nagarahole National Park where the officer had gone to assess the damage to the forests caused by a fire near Kakanakote beat close to the Kabini backwaters at about 1.30 pm yesterday.

A 2001 batch officer, Manikandan was a native of Theni district in Tamil Nadu. He is survived by his wife Sangeetha, son Kavilesh and daughter Mithila.

According to the sources in the Forest Department, Manikandan, accompanied by about 10 to 15 staff including Range Forest Officer (RFO) Subramani, was inspecting the damage by the fire and taking the GPS reading, when a wild tusker suddenly emerged from the thick vegetation, trumpeted and charged at the group from the side, catching them off guard.

While the forest guards and the watchers ran for safety, RFO Subramani ducked to take cover and the wild tusker turned towards Manikandan who stumbled and fell down while trying to escape and was trampled. Subramani escaped with minor injuries.

Though the accompanying staff raised an alarm to distract the elephant, it charged at them forcing them to run for cover. Sources said that though the guards were armed, the elephant emerged suddenly giving them no time to react. Soon afterwards, the wild tusker disappeared into the jungles. The whole incident took place in a matter of about 25 seconds.

The forest staff, who immediately regrouped, rushed the injured officer to H.D. Kote Hospital in the jeep which was waiting on Mysuru-Manadavadi Road, a few hundred meters from the scene. However, efforts by the doctors to revive the officer failed and he was declared dead.

A field man who always led from the front: Shocked over the death of Manikandan, officers and staff of Forest Department, described him as a “field man” who always led from the front and was involved in documenting the numbers and the range of wild tuskers in Nagarahole. According to Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Project Elephant Manoj Kumar, Manikandan was one of the few field directors of the Parks who knew the home range and territory of various elephants and tigers that received an ID based on their camera trap images. He had earlier worked in various capacities in Bengaluru, BRT Sanctuary, Kodagu, Ballari, Raichur, and more and was due for a promotion later this year.

Body shifted to Mysuru: A pall of gloom descended on K.R. Hospital yesterday, when the body of Manikandan was brought in the evening.

The body was later taken to Aranya Bhavan in Ashokapuram where it was kept for public viewing after draping the body with the National Flag.

The body was kept in the Aranya Bhavan premises till the family members of the deceased officer arrived from Bengaluru. The body was again shifted to MMC&RI mortuary where post-mortem was conducted and later the body was handed over to the family members. It is learnt that the last rites would be conducted at his native place.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) D. Randeep, Arpitha Randeep, PCCF Punati Sridhar, State Project Elephant Director Manoj Kumar, APCCF Jagathram, CCF Karunakar, DCFs Dr. K.T. Hanumanthappa and V. Yedukondalu, Bandipur Tiger Project Director Ambadi Madhav, Mysuru Zoo Executive Director C. Ravishankar, ACFs Poovaiah, Paramesh, Ananyakumar, B.P. Ravi, former Chamarajanagar Hon. Wildlife Warden N.M. Naveen Kumar, Dr. Santhrupt and members of the public were among those who paid their last respects.

Departmental Probe: Meanwhile, PCCF Punati Sridhar told SOM that a Departmental probe has been ordered into the incident and added that order has also been given to remove Lantana plants along the pathway on which the Forest staff go for their regular beats on foot.

Bird Census postponed: The bird census which was scheduled to commence from today at Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary has also been postponed following the incident, Forest Officials said and added that the new census date would be notified soon.