Sakrebyle Elephant Camp Temporarily Closed After Fatal Incident
Closure of Sakrebyle Elephant Camp
Representational Image
Shivamogga (Karnataka), May 21: The Sakrebyle Elephant Camp, located near Shivamogga, has been closed to visitors following a tragic event at the Dubare Elephant Camp in Madikeri district, where a woman tragically lost her life due to a confrontation between two elephants. Authorities confirmed that one of the elephants involved, named Marthanda, later died from its injuries.
In light of this incident, officials have decided to completely restrict tourist access to the Sakrebyle camp until new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are established.
Initially, the camp had only prohibited activities such as bathing and direct interaction with the elephants, allowing tourists to observe from a distance. However, the decision has now been made to halt all visitor access to ensure safety.
Authorities indicated that these restrictions will remain until updated safety protocols and SOPs are implemented.
The Sakrebyle Elephant Camp, situated near Gajanur along the Tunga reservoir, is a well-known attraction for those wishing to interact with elephants.
It is important to note that the incident at Dubare Elephant Camp resulted in the death of S. Junese, a tourist from Tamil Nadu, on Monday.
In response to the fatality of the 33-year-old woman from Chennai, the Dubare Elephant Camp has also been closed to tourists.
Her husband, Joyal, suffered serious injuries and has been admitted to Kushalnagar Government Hospital for medical care.
Reports indicate that the couple arrived at the Dubare Elephant Camp on Monday morning, where they initially took photographs with trained elephants. Later, they joined other tourists in a waterbody while the elephants were being bathed by their handlers. Tourists were also involved in cleaning and bathing the elephants.
During this activity, two elephants, Marthanda and Kanjan, unexpectedly began to fight. Despite the mahouts' efforts to control the situation, the elephants continued their altercation.
In the chaos, Marthanda fell on S. Junese, resulting in her immediate death and leaving her husband severely injured. Other tourists and officials quickly rescued the couple from the water and transported them to the hospital.
Sadly, Marthanda, who suffered significant injuries during the fight with Kanjan, passed away on Tuesday.
Sources revealed that Marthanda had sustained critical internal injuries after collapsing during the altercation and was unable to rise. The elephant endured the attack for approximately 15 minutes. Veterinarians treating Marthanda noted that excessive blood loss likely compromised its heart function.