Elephant Arjuna who was killed in a fight with another wild tusker in Sakleskpur in Hassan district on Monday, was among the last of a generation of giants which was captured during the 1968 Khedda operations.
Khedda operations refer the practice of driving the wild elephants into enclosures with camouflaged pits using trained jumbos and the practice was banned in 1972 after the enactment of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Captured from Bendekatte area of Thithimathi range, Arjuna’s fame rested on his psychological strength and ability to take the challenge to the opponent’s camp in combing operations to trap or corner tigers and elephants dubbed as “rogues” that are perceived to be “problematic” if they stray into human landscape.
