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Young Tusker Rescued From 60-Foot Hydropower Canal in Karnataka

A coordinated operation using reduced dam outflows, veterinary sedation, heavy cranes made the rescue possible.

Overview

  • The rescue concluded Tuesday near Shivanasamudra after the elephant spent roughly three days trapped in a fast-flowing canal feeding a private power plant.
  • More than 100 personnel from the Forest Department and district teams participated, with continuous on-site monitoring and provisioning to prevent exhaustion.
  • Water releases from the Krishnaraja Sagar and Kabini dams were lowered to stabilize conditions before extraction.
  • Veterinarians sedated the approximately 12-year-old tusker, kept its trunk clear of water, and coordinated an 80-tonne crane brought from Bengaluru to hoist it out.
  • Post-rescue checks found no injuries, an antidote reversed the sedation, the animal was released into the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, and officials are conducting short-term health monitoring including drone surveillance.