Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Dec 4: On Friday December 2, the body of Shivappa Moolya (75) from Hosmutt, Charmadi, was found in the bamboo grove a little distance away from his house. There were tell-tale signs of attack by pachyderms on him.

Shivappa, who lived alone in the village, was dependent on dairying activity for a living. His children, who pursue other vocations, live at different places. His wife had died last year after a tree fell on their home. As the people in the neighbourhood, who saw that his cattle remained away from their shed even at night, searched for him, but in vain. On Friday, a woman who was collecting firewood saw the decomposed body of Shivappa. Shivappa’s farm, in which the body was found, was destroyed completely by elephants.

Circle inspector, Sudarshan, probationary assistant conservator of forests, Dinesh, range forest officer, Raghava Pataly and several other officials visited the house of Shivappa. This region, which falls within the elephant corridor, has been known to experience attacks by elephants often.