Man Killed in Wild Elephant Attack near Balale, Kodagu

Forest department officials reached the location after receiving the alert. Image used for representation purpose only.

Balale: A man lost his life after being attacked by a wild elephant near Balale village in South Kodagu on Monday morning.

The incident occurred around 7 a.m. when Ajay, a resident of Ponnappa Santhe, was cycling along a forest-adjacent road. According to local sources, Ajay suddenly encountered the wild elephant, which charged at him. In a stroke of luck, he managed to abandon his cycle and flee the spot unharmed.

Tragically, another man who was walking along the same road was not as fortunate. The elephant, still agitated, attacked the pedestrian, killing him instantly. His identity was yet to be confirmed at the time of reporting.

Forest department officials reached the location after receiving the alert. They inspected the site and are monitoring the movement of the elephant in the area. Efforts are underway to prevent further human-animal conflict, said officials. 

This incident has once again raised concerns about the increasing movement of wild elephants near human settlements in Kodagu, particularly in fringe areas like Balale. Locals have urged the forest department to take immediate measures to prevent such incidents, including deploying rapid response teams and improving early warning systems.

Kodagu has witnessed several similar encounters in recent months, with residents in many parts of the district voicing fear and frustration over the lack of effective mitigation measures.

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