A dedicated forest department team had tracked the herd overnight from the sanctuary, about 100km away
However, the herd took a village route on Thursday morning and entered a 3-km stretch of paddy fields in Kudigere, under Thyagarthi gram panchayat.
Prakash, a resident of Gowthamapura, told TOI that the elephants damaged paddy fields along their route. Activist Shashi Sampalli said the forest department should strengthen elephant-movement monitoring and establish an Elephant Task Force in Shivamogga. Senior officials said a proposal for the task force, mainly sought for Bhadravathi division, had been sent to higher authorities.
A dedicated forest department team had tracked the herd overnight from the sanctuary, about 100km away. Elephants have frequented the region for the past three years and are believed to be reclaiming an ancient migration corridor after a prolonged absence. The location is a usual crossing point for elephants entering Bellandur forest. Forest staff reached the area and, with villagers’ help, drove the elephants 10km back.
A tusker crossed the Ranebennur-Byndoor highway at Peeranakanive near Ambligola dam on Wednesday night, according to Ambligola range forest officer Madhava.