By The News Observer Desk,
Karwar: A large wild elephant was sighted on the road leading to the Kali Project Colony (KPC) within the Ambikanagar Gram Panchayat limits on Saturday night, sending shockwaves through the local community. The incident comes amid a surge in elephant movement in the region over the past week, heightening concerns among residents and commuters.
https://youtu.be/mjfm1JV-ePw?si=Q6vQWm4ZNJGkzHyr
Around 8 PM, a group of laborers traveling on foot to KPC for night-shift duties at the nearby hydroelectric project were startled when the massive tusker suddenly emerged from the roadside vegetation onto the dimly lit stretch. The workers, frozen in fear, managed to record the elephant calmly walking along the road using their mobile phone flashlights. The video, now widely circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, shows the animal’s imposing silhouette against the forest backdrop.
Local sources report that this is the third confirmed elephant sighting on the Ambikanagar-KPC route in the last 10 days. The area lies on the fringes of the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, a biodiversity hotspot known for its dense elephant population. Forest officials attribute the increased human-wildlife encounters to habitat disturbance caused by ongoing monsoon-related landslides and the animals’ search for food and water outside protected zones.
The Forest Department has deployed rapid response teams and issued advisories urging residents to avoid traveling alone after dusk, refrain from using loud horns, and report sightings immediately. Solar-powered streetlights are being installed along vulnerable stretches, and temporary barriers are under consideration.
Commuters, especially workers dependent on the KPC route for access to the Kaiga and Supa dam projects, have demanded enhanced night patrolling and elephant corridors to minimize conflict. “We walk this road daily. One wrong step, and it could be fatal,” said a local laborer.
With the Western Ghats witnessing heightened wildlife activity this season, authorities have appealed for public cooperation to ensure safety for both humans and elephants.
Reporting and Videography by Saikiran Babrekar
