Wild tuskers clash at Bikkodu in Belur taluk

Panic arose among residents of Bikkodu village in Belur taluk on Sunday morning (November 9) when two wild tuskers got into a fierce fight in the residential area.

The elephants, named Bhima and Captain by locals, came face to face and struck each other. One of Bhima’s tusks broke and became disjointed during the fight. Despite being terrified, locals clicked photos and recorded videos of the encounter from safe vantage points. One of the elephants destroyed a polyethylene water tank placed near the house.

The Elephant Task Force personnel, who were monitoring the elephants’ movements, were also on the spot and attempted to drive the wild animals out of the village.

Sourabh Kumar, deputy conservator of forests, Hassan division, said The Hindu that fighting between wild tuskers was common. They fight over territory. “As the fight took place in a human habitat, local people were worried. Our staff tracked the elephants both on the ground and using drones. By noon, the tusks had been moved to an acacia plantation,” the officer said. The staff recovered the broken tusk from the scene.

Many wild elephants roam in parts of Sakaleshpur, Belur and Alur taluks of Hassan districts. They often plunder agricultural fields, damaging crops. Many people have also been killed in elephant attacks in the district.