Elephant Somanna ran amock and damaged a SUV at Shivamogga Dasara Wednesday
Shivamogga/ Bengaluru: Public and political pressure is building over an incident in which tusker Somanna, carrying a 450-kilo silver howdah, ran out of control during Shivamogga Dasara procession, with wildlife and Kannada organisations demanding the suspension of senior forest officials for alleged administrative negligence.
Authorities had initially said elephant Sagar would carry the howdah but developed a leg injury, according to the activists. Meanwhile, Shivamogga district minister Madhu Bangarappa said further action would be taken once a scientific report on the Dasara procession incident is submitted. Speaking to media in Bengaluru, Bangarappa said the exact reason behind the animal’s panic was yet to be ascertained. “It is possible that the elephant was frightened by the band music and the huge, dense crowd,” he said, adding officials have been directed to submit a scientific report on the incident, which will be reviewed before any further action is initiated.
They rejected the forest department’s internal inquiry and sought an independent police investigation or SIT probe. At a news conference on Friday, representatives of Malenadu Wildlife and Cultural Foundation, Kannada organisations and environmentalists Srikanth, Ravi Prasad and Dileep Nadig held CCF, Shivamogga Circle, KT Hanumanthappa and DCF (wildlife) Prasanna Krishna Patgar responsible for alleged failures in elephant management, medical oversight and public safety.