Visitor Succumbs After Elephant Falls On Her Accidentally At Dubare Camp In Kodagu
In the fight, Kanjan is said to have given Marthanda a strong push, causing the latter to go off balance and fall into the River Cauvery. The fight between Marthanda and Kanjan made visitors in the water run for safety but Tulasi was trapped after Marthanda fell on her. Even after Marthanda fell, Kanjan continued its attack while Tulasi was still trapped under
BENGALURU: Thirtythree-year-old Tulasi, a native of Tamil Nadu, died on Monday at Dubare Elephant Camp in Kodagu, after tamed elephants- Marthanda and Kankan started a fight between them while having their routine bath at the River Cauvery flowing through the camp and the visitor to the camp was trapped under the massive size of Marthanda which accidentally fell on her.
In the fight, Kanjan is said to have given Marthanda a strong push, causing the latter to go off balance and fall into the River Cauvery. The fight between Marthanda and Kanjan made visitors in the water run for safety but Tulasi was trapped after Marthanda fell on her. Even after Marthanda fell, Kanjan continued its attack while Tulasi was still trapped under.
The incident is said to have occurred at around 12 pm at the Dubare Elephant Camp, a popular tourist destination and Minister of Forests and Environment Eshwar Khandre termed the death of the visitor as “none can imagine.”
Husband of the deceased Tulasi explained he, his wife and his daughter entered the River Cauvery flowing through the camp to spend some time where the tamed elephants are bathed. Suddenly there was confusion after two tamed elephants started to fight with each other and noticing the fight, visitors in the water ran for safety while he and his daughter managed to escape from being trapped in the fight between two elephants, however, his wife Tulasi was trapped and succumbed.
Sources said Kanjan was so livid that he started Marthanda and gave him a strong push. A strong push by Kanjan threw Marthanda off balance and fell into the River Cauvery when Tulasi was at the River.
Kanjan did not stop after throwing Marthanda off balance but he aggressively pierced with his tusks while caretakers tried their best to separate the two elephants. The situation was brought under control later and officials concerned cleared the area from visitors for the rest of the day. The body of Tulasi was shifted to a hospital.
Expressing condolences over the death of visitor Tulasi, Minister of Forests and Environment Eshwar Khandre said “It is difficult to understand the behavior of animals despite being tamed.” Khandre assured to initiate steps to bar visitors from feeding tamed elephants, giving them a bath in elephant camps and also stated to watch elephants from a safe distance in future.
