Siddapura: An elephant, which used to stay put inside coffee estates and create havoc by destroying crops and causing panic among residents and estate workers, has been finally captured by Forest Department personnel with the help of tamed elephants after a 48-hour operation near Siddapura.

Tamed elephants Abhimanyu and Arjuna from Mathigodu Elephant Camp, Ajay, Dhananjaya and Prashanth from Dubare Camp, along with more than 50 Forest Department staff, conducted an operation at Biti Kaadu area near Siddapura and successfully captured the male elephant, aged about 22 years after a 48-hour-long operation.

Permission was given to capture five elephants which were creating havoc and an operation was started to capture three elephants out of which this 22-year-old tusker was captured and transported in a truck to Bandipur. This tusker, which was tranquillised and captured, was treated by Veterinarians Dr. Chattippa and Dr. Mujeeb. A crane was brought to the spot and with the help of tamed elephants, the captured elephant was loaded into the truck.

Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Murthy, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Chakrapani, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Roshini, Range Forest Officers (RFOs) Ranjan and Devaiah, Deputy Range Forest Officer (DRFO) Sanjith Somaiah, Sharp Shooter Akram, Dr. Thammaiah, Chethan and others were present.