Forest department officials took part in an exercise as part of an exercise to capture Indian gaur at Koppa in Chikkamagalur on Thursday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
A major operation to capture and relocate Indian gaur, said to be the first of its kind in South India, could not take off at Koppa in Chikkamagaluru district on Thursday due to rains. The operation was postponed until Friday morning.
Forest department officials from Chikkamagaluru circle have made extensive preparations to capture three Indian gaurs who were causing concern at Koppa Estate near Koppa town. Principal Principal Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Kumar Pushkar was present at the spot to supervise the exercise.
The operation was prompted by a spate of deadly attacks, with six people killed by gaurs in Chikkamagaluru district in the past three years. A team of senior officials, including Yashpal Ksheerasagar, Conservator of Forests, Chikkamagaluru Circle, had earlier visited Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh to study a similar relocation exercise being carried out in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.
Forest department officials took part in an exercise as part of an exercise to capture Indian gaur at Koppa in Chikkamagalur on Thursday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
“There is no precedent for capturing and translocating Indian gaur in the wild in South India. We are doing it on an experimental basis,” Mr Ksheerasagar told The Hindu. “Karnataka currently has a standard operating procedure for trapping wild elephants, but there is no equivalent for Indian gaurs. This operation will help us develop one,” he said.
Officials noted that the SOP followed in Madhya Pradesh could not be directly applied in Karnataka due to significant differences in terrain and forest type. “The landscape in Madhya Pradesh is flat, while ours is not. The nature of the forest is also very different. We conduct exercises to prepare our personnel for the actual operation,” said Mr. Ksheerasagar.
The department officials have identified two herds of Indian gaur, one of 18 animals and another of 16, roaming around Koppa. Permission was granted to capture the three animals and relocate them to the Bhadra Tiger Reserve. The operation is supported by a team of six veterinarians, including Chettiappa from Dubare, who were also equipped with two kumki elephants.
E. Shivashankar, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Koppa Division, said the animals would be tranquilized using standard drugs, though a fixed dosage protocol is yet to be decided. “A team of expert veterinarians will determine the appropriate dose. The entire exercise is aimed at helping us develop a formal SOP for gaur management,” he said.
Published – 14 May 2026 20:36 IST
