Belthangady, July 28, 2025: In recent days, wild elephants have been damaging crops near Boliyar, close to Dharmasthala. On Monday morning, a lone tusker appeared on the road, creating panic among locals.
The elephant approached a roadside bus stop where schoolchildren were waiting. Startled by the massive animal, the children ran into a nearby shop for safety. Fortunately, the tusker soon moved back toward the forest, averting a potential tragedy.
Just two weeks ago, a man was killed in a wild elephant attack near Gundi in Kokkada-Soutadka. The latest sighting of the lone tusker has further heightened fear among residents. Continuous elephant attacks in the Beltangady region have caused significant losses to farmers, and now the growing threat to human lives is forcing schoolchildren and cattle herders to move around in constant fear.