Foresters rescue second wild jumbo Vikranth in Hassan The Times of India March 20, 2025 See link <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/foresters-rescue-second-wild-jumbo-vikranth-in-hassan/articleshow/119267382.cms> for photo. Hassan: A massive operation to rescue the wild elephant Vikranth ended after two days of struggle and more than six hours of effort by forest staff on Thursday noon. The jumbo was darted with a sedative near the Hullimakki area, Byadane village of Sakaleshpura taluk of Hassan. It was a major triumph for the staff to rescue the elephant, which posed a threat to people for two and a half years. Vikranth is the second elephant rescued, after forest minister Eshwar Khandre directed the department to rescue three elephants. The operation to rescue the third one will continue. The operation team had 200 staff, including ETF, veterinary staff, and police personnel, headed by DCF Sourabh Kumar. Elephants Prashanth, Karnataka Bheema, Dhananjaya, Kanjan, Harsha, Ekalavya, and Mahendra were involved in the operation. Vikranth, who did not fall for the trap, was not identified in thermal drone sensing. It tried to escape, staying sometimes in a group and suddenly disappearing alone into the woods. Operation Vikranth failed for two consecutive days, worrying officers. On Wednesday, the operation was not successful as Vikranth was hiding in the Kananahalli Forest area and could not be separated from the group. When Karnataka Bheema and the team were ready to separate Vikranth using two thermal drones, an unexpected twist surfaced. Another popular wild elephant, Bheema, appeared on the site and disrupted the entire operation. Vikranth again disappeared with the help of Bheema. The staff sedated Bheema first and separated it. On Thursday noon, Vikranth was rescued. Speaking to TOI, DCF Saurabh Kumar said, "It has been causing damage to the properties and poses a threat to residents. We targeted it last year and could not rescue it. Wild elephant Bheema is huge, and it came to halt the operation on Wednesday. Due to safety measures, we abandoned the operation. Finally, on Thursday, it was spotted and successfully rescued. It is 30 to 35 years old." "We have already rescued one and this is the second one. We will take a break on Friday and resume the operation on Saturday. We got permission to relocate it. It is unable to be released into the woods because of its behaviour. As directed by higher authorities, we are planning to relocate it to Sakrebailu camp in Shivamogga," he said. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/foresters-rescue-second-wild-jumbo-vikranth-in-hassan/articleshow/119267382.cms