While one elephant drowns in lake near Ammathi, another elephant was electrocuted near Gonikoppa

Siddapura/ Gonikoppa: In separate cases, two wild elephants have died in Kodagu. While one elephant was drowned in the lake near Ammathi, another wild elephant was electrocuted at Aravathoklu village  near Gonikoppa.

In the first case, a wild elephant was found drowned in the lake at Vontiangadi Pachchat near Ammathi in the district.

On Friday night, a herd of wild elephants had appeared in the estate of Pachchat resident Nanda and a wild elephant, aged about 13 years, went to the lake to drink water and got stuck. Unable to come out of the lake, the wild elephant got drowned.

On receiving information, Nanda alerted the Forest officials, following which DCF Jagganath, ACF Nehru, RFO Kallira M. Devaiah and others visited the spot. The dead elephant was lifted from the lake with the help of an earth excavating machine and Veterinarian Dr. Chittiappa conducted post-mortem at the spot and the elephant carcass was buried.

Forest officials Sanjith Somaiah and Santosh, staff of RRT and Elephant Task Force were present.

In the second case, a male elephant, aged about 10 years, was electrocuted at a coffee estate in Aravathoklu village near Gonikoppa recently.

The coffee estate belongs to one Eshwar Rao. There is a 11 KV power line passing through the estate which had fallen on a iron pole. The elephant, which had come to the estate, accidentally brushed against the iron pole and was instantly electrocuted and the elephant’s carcass was discovered on Saturday.

Thithimathi ACF Gopal, Ponnampet RFO and other Forest staff visited the spot and have taken future course of action.