Karnataka's Most Loved Wild Tusker ‘Rowdy’ Ranga Killed By Speeding Bus Near Nagarhole Forest

Karnataka has lost its most loved elephant, ‘Rowdy’ Ranga, in a road accident. According to reports, the 48-year-old wild elephant was killed after it was hit by a speeding bus around 2am on Monday, near Mathigodu Elephant Camp in Thithimathi on Mysuru-Gonikoppal Road.?

Excessive blood loss and spinal injuries is said to be the main medical reason behind its death.??

BCCL

According to wildlife officials, Ranga was returning to the Mathigodu elephant camp after grazing in the forest, was hit by a private bus coming from Kannur in Kerala.

Ranga who was critically injured in the collision with the bus with 35 passengers was given immediate medical care but died within hours.?

“Ranga lost 60 per cent of blood due to the injuries suffered on his spinal cord and left leg, and died within hours,” an official said.?

Police said the Scania AC sleeper belonging to Kalpaka Travels was overspeeding and the driver, identified as Ismail has been taken into custody under the Wildlife Protection Act.

BCCL

Ranga had been nicknamed Rowdy for his rouge behaviour. In his free years, Ranga was known to be roaming around four forest divisions throughout the year. He would spend more than half of the year in Magadi or Nelamangala forest in search of food and water and travelled to Bannerghatta in May-June in search of mates.

Following a few incidents involving Ranga where he came into conflict with humans and the death of forest watcher in 2016, the tukasr was captured and relocated to Mathigodu, where he was tamed and trained for Dasara procession.?

BCCL/FILE

This was despite a campaign by activists called 'Save Ranga' demanding his release from captivity. According to Forest officials, Ranga who was once known to be a rogue elephant had mellowed down with training and was expected to be the Howdah during next year's Dasara.

“It is a big loss for us. Next year, he would have been ready for Dasara. He was very well-behaved tusker, he was practising with mahouts,” an official said.

BCCL/FILE

The death of Ranga, the second such incident in recent times has reignited the call for a complete night traffic ban in Nagarhole and Bandipur forest ranges.

According to activist, the Nagarhole road has heavy traffic due to the night travel restrictions in place in Bandipur, which they want to extend to Nagarhole also.

They also point out that the drivers over speed in these roads, despite it being known as a wildlife crossing corridor. They also alleged that despite growing the cases of vehicle knocking down wild animals, no speed breakers have been put in place in these roads.?