BANGALORE: A 35-year-old techie working for IBM who tried to take photographs of wild elephants which had strayed from the Bannerghatta forest to a eucalyptus plantation nearby was trampled to death near Mantapa village near Bannerghatta in Anekal taluk on Saturday afternoon.
The deceased has been identified as Surappa Ramesh. Speaking to Express VR Nayak, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Bannnerghatta said, “A herd of around 14 elephants had come out of Bannerghatta forest area towards the eucalyptus plantation near the Mantapa village last night and had camped there. On Saturday, by the time we reached, more than 1,500 villagers had already gathered at the plantation site and there was a huge commotion.”
“Meanwhile, on getting the information, Surappa Ramesh, a wildlife enthusiast had gone to the spot with his camera. Disturbed and agitated by the flashlight, the elephant went berserk and started chasing him. As he was running he fell down and had dropped his camera. Later, when he went back to pick up his camera, he was thrown towards one tree and was trampled by one of those elephant. On the way to the hospital, he succumbed,” he added. However, as the death was outside the forest area, the family will be compensated accordingly, sources said.
Meanwhile, the elephants which had strayed out were slowly driven back to Bannerghatta forest.