Overview
- Forest staff at Koppa Estate sedated a healthy male gaur but revived and released it after finding it weighed over 1,000 kg and could not be moved.
- The Forest Department began the experimental relocation after rain halted the first attempt, with plans to move three identified animals to Bhadra Tiger Reserve.
- Officials say South India has no set procedure for gaur capture, so this exercise will test sedation, handling, and transport methods suited to steep, forested terrain.
- A six-veterinarian team and two kumki elephants, which are trained working elephants, are deployed after officials prepared through study visits and specialized training.
- Authorities launched the push to ease human-wildlife conflict in the Malnad, where repeated encounters have damaged crops and caused several deaths in recent years.