A tragic incident occurred at the Dubare elephant camp near Kushalnagara in Kodagu district on Monday, where a woman tourist from Tamil Nadu lost her life after a male captive elephant attacked another elephant. The victim, identified as Jinsu, 33, a resident of Pallavaram in Chennai, was trapped under the second elephant as it fell while trying to evade the attack. Her husband Joel, an engineer, and their five-year-old daughter Jersey sustained minor injuries in the chaos.
Details of the Incident
The incident took place around 11.15 am while tourists were bathing the elephants in the Cauvery river at the camp. The Dubare elephant camp allows visitors, in batches and on a first-come-first-served basis, to touch, scrub, bathe, and feed the elephants as part of an immersive wildlife experience. Jinsu and her family, along with several others, were near 35-year-old elephant Marthanda in the shallow waters, preparing to splash water on the animal when disaster struck.
Sequence of Events
Officials reported that 28-year-old tusker Kanjan, which was present near Marthanda, a makhna (male without tusks), suddenly turned aggressive and charged at the other elephant. As panic-stricken tourists ran for safety, Jinsu got trapped between Marthanda's front legs. When Kanjan charged again, Marthanda tried to move away but lost balance and fell on Jinsu, pinning her beneath its belly and causing severe head injuries. She succumbed to her injuries on the way to the hospital.
Aftermath and Response
Hundreds of tourists were present at the camp when the incident occurred. It took nearly 10 minutes for the elephant handlers to bring the situation under control, after which tourists were evacuated and the camp was shut for two days. This incident has once again raised concerns about safety arrangements at Dubare, one of Karnataka's most-visited wildlife tourism centers.
Elephants Involved
Both elephants involved in Monday's incident were Dasara jumbos. Kanjan had previously run amok in the run-up to the 2024 festivities in Mysuru but was contained by its handlers, with no damage done. Senior forest officials clarified that neither elephant directly attacked the tourists.
Compensation and Donation
Deputy Conservator of Forests (Madikeri), Abhishek, who visited the camp, condoled the death and announced compensation of Rs 20 lakh for Jinsu's family. According to police, the victim's family donated her eyes at Kushalnagar hospital.
