Sakrebailu elephant camp near Shivamogga closed for tourists temporarily

Key points

• The elephant camp at Sakrebailu, located approximately 15 km from Shivamogga, has been temporarily closed to the public following directives from the Karnataka Forest Department, in the wake of a tragic incident at the Dubare elephant camp where a tourist woman lost her life and an elephant also died after a fight with another elephant on May 18. On Thursday morning, a few visitors who arrived at the camp were turned away by staff, who informed them that the camp had been shut down until further notice.
• The closure comes as the Forest Department moves swiftly to put in place a safety framework for elephant camps across the State.
• SOP for camps Prasanna Krishna Patagar, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Shivamogga, confirmed the development to The Hindu.
• “Following instructions from our seniors in the department, the camp has been closed to the public.
• In the wake of the Dubare incident,...