Elephant Arjuna of Dasara fame dies after being attacked by wild tusker in Sakleshpur

Arjuna, a 63-year-old elephant of Dasara fame, died in Sakleshpur during a Forest Department operation to capture troublesome elephants.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Sixty four-year-old Arjuna, the elephant that carried the golden howdah during the Dasara procession, died in a fight with a wild elephant during the elephant capture operation near Yeslur in Sakleshpur on Monday.

The Forest Department had been conducting the operation to capture troublesome tuskers in the Sakleshpur, Alur, Belur and Yeslur ranges of Hassan. During the operation, a wild tusker attacked Arjuna, who succumbed to injuries he suffered in the stomach, according to preliminary reports. The incident has forced the department to stop the operation.

Arjuna, the showstopper at the Mysuru Dasara procession in 2019, leading the procession with a 750 kg golden howdah on his back. File Photo
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu

Arjuna carried the 750-kg howdah during the Dasara procession eight times until 2019, when he turned 60. Besides that, the animal participated in many elephant capture operations.

During the operation on the day, the Forest Department staff identified a tusker for capture. The team noticed a herd of 12 elephants. As per the procedure, the target elephant had to be separated from the group for capture.

It is said that the staff, with the help of tamed elephants, separated the tusker and fired the tranquilliser dart to sedate the animal. Under the influence of the tranquilliser, the tusker charged the tamed elephants. While other tamed elephants withdrew, Arjuna stood firm to face.

Anticipating danger, the caretakers and other team members left the place. Arjuna engaged with the tusker, suffered deep wounds, and succumbed a few minutes later. The death left the caretakers and staff members in grief.

Venu, caretaker of Arjuna, fell unconscious as he learned about the death. He has been shifted to a hospital in Sakleshpur. He has been associated with the animal for years.

Operation

The operation to fix radio collars on nine wild elephants began in Belur taluk on November 24. The tamed elephants, including Arjuna, were brought in to conduct the operation.

So far, the department has succeeded in capturing two tuskers for translocation and fixing radio collars on three female elephants. The radio collars are fixed around the neck after sedating them so that their movement can be traced. The department informs the local public in elephant-affected areas about the movement of herds to avoid human-elephant conflicts.

Many elephants have been roaming in parts of Alur, Belur, Sakaleshpur taluks leaving the local people in fear. The herds damage crops, causing a huge loss to farmers. In the last 10 years, more than 75 people have died in elephants attacks in Hassan district. The local people have been demanding the government capture all elephants and translocate them.

Expressed grief

Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has expressed grief over the death of Arjuna, the elephant that carried howdah in Mysuru dasara during the elephant capture operation in Yeslur range in Sakaleshpur taluk.

The Minister, in his statement released in Belagavi, said the elephant, Arjuna died after he was attacked by a rogue tusker during the operation at Yeslur Range. The enraged rogue elephant attacked Arjuna and hit him with its tusks, causing his death. “Even after the staff opened fire in the air, the tusker attacked the tamed elephant. While the other three tamed elephants withdrew, Arjun fought alone. The veterinarian and the mahout somehow escaped,” he said.

“Capturing a rogue elephant is a difficult task,” he opined. People get panicked when wild elephants tread into human habitats. The Forest Department took the action to capture trouble-causing elephants in the area. The officials have fixed radio collars on five wild elephants so far, he added.

Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has said he was deeply pained by the death of Arjuna, the elephant, in Sakleshpur. “While other elephants went back, Arjuna alone fought valiantly during the operation. It is sad to know the animal is no more. I wish the Forest Department staff took enough care for their safety and the safety of the animals involved in such operations,” he said.