Dibrugarh: Arunachal Pradesh Forest Minister Wangki Lowang on Wednesday announced that a rogue elephant responsible for multiple human fatalities in Tirap district has been successfully identified and captured with the assistance of an expert team from the Karnataka Forest Department.
In a statement shared on social media, Lowang credited the success of the operation to coordinated efforts between state authorities and the visiting specialists. “This would not have been possible without their invaluable support. I sincerely thank Chief Minister Pema Khandu for his prompt assistance. My heartfelt appreciation also goes to the PCCF, Chief Wildlife Warden, CCF (Wildlife), and their teams for their tireless efforts,” he said.
A 12-member expert team from Karnataka arrived in Deomali on March 30 to track and capture the elephant, which had been linked to several deaths over the past two years. The team was led by Ramesha H., a senior veterinary officer and elephant specialist, and included experts in tranquilisation, wildlife monitoring, and trained mahouts from Karnataka’s elephant camps.
The operation utilised advanced tracking methods, including thermal drones, along with trained kumki elephants to safely locate and restrain the animal.
Forest officials said the initiative was aimed at mitigating the ongoing human-elephant conflict in the region and preventing further casualties. The successful capture is expected to bring relief to residents of affected areas in Tirap district, who have been living under persistent threat.