Madikeri: In order to track the movement of wild elephants, the forest department has fitted radio collars to three elephants and named them. There has been an increase in elephants camping in the coffee plantations under the Thithimathi forest and Virajpet forest and causing havoc.To prevent human-elephant conflict, the department officials and staff conducted an operation and captured three elephants in the Thithimathi forest. Of them two were tuskers, which were fitted with radio collars. Foresters have named one tusker as Aiyappa and the other Dharma.In addition, another female elephant has also been fitted with a radio collar. They were released into the forest after being fitted with collars. The wild elephants fitted with radio collars roam around with the group and help the department gather information.Meanwhile, the elephants continue to damage crops in Marandoda village, trampling sprinkler pipes, coffee, arecanut, banana, and other plants. A herd of elephants that entered the estate in Marandoda village damaged the crops.
