Sullia: Following a hectic 20-hour-long operation by the forest and police personnel, with the support of the public, a herd of elephants which had camped in Bhasmadka ward of town panchayat since Friday marched their way back into the forest by Saturday night.
However, on their way back, they wrought havoc by uprooting three coconut trees at the spot they had stayed put and ate up 30 banana plants in the farm of Gangadhar.
The forest personnel kept a strict vigil on their movements all along. Sullia range forest officer Subbayya Naik confirmed that they had retreated four kilometres into their original habitat in the forest. He also informed that the pouring rain had kept their temperament cool and they marched back without any fuss or resistance.
Their arrival into the town limits had created stir and sensation, besides fear, as the location is very close to the KVG education campus in Kurunji Bagh.
Forest officials from three divisions of Sullia, Panja and Subrahmanya took part in the operation, assisted by a police team with circle inspector B S Satish and sub inspector Chandrashekhar leading their team.
Divisional forest officer Hanumantappa has visited the spot and has requested the farmers to provide the details of damage to their respective farms so that compensation can be worked out.
Sullia: Wild Jumbos March into Town Periphery, Camp near KVG Edu-campus
