PANAJI
Goa Forest Department is coordinating with its Maharashtra counterpart who is working on a plan to capture and shift wild elephant Omkar to Gujarat’s ‘Vantara’ rescue and rehabilitation centre, as neither Goa nor Maharashtra has a dedicated facility to manage such cases. The move comes amid rising concerns over the tusker’s four-month-long trail of destruction across both States.
Omkar, 10 years old, reappeared in Goa on November 30 after nearly three months without any sightings. He was first spotted at Fakirpado in Pernem, signalling his return to the State. By the following morning, the elephant moved into Torxem, where he reportedly damaged agricultural fields and plantations. Currently, he has been moving around the Mopa–Ugvem–Nigalye–Poraskadem belt and has allegedly destroyed banana plantations and even caused damage to a few vehicles.
Forest officials said Omkar had last been seen in early September before straying back into the forested stretches along the Goa–Maharashtra border. A senior officer confirmed that ground staff, rescue personnel, and drone teams have been deployed to continuously track his movements. The elephant has been observed feeding on coconuts, arecanuts and bananas as he moves through villages.
According to the officer, Maharashtra’s Forest Department has already prepared a plan and secured High Court clearance to capture the animal and shift him to Vantara -- the elephant care facility run by the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTWET) in Jamnagar. “Both Goa and Maharashtra lack a specialised rehabilitation centre, which is why the Maharashtra government has sought assistance from Vantara,” the official explained.
Last month, the Kolhapur bench of the Bombay High Court authorised the capture of a 10-year-old wild elephant, directing authorities to ensure the animal suffers no stress or injury during the operation. The court also specified that Vantara will supervise the elephant’s care and training.
Omkar, a sub-adult male, is believed to have been separated from his six-member herd in Sindhudurg district. After wandering through parts of North Goa and Maharashtra, his behaviour reportedly became increasingly erratic.
Maharashtra government’s submissions before the court described him as a serious threat to human safety and property, citing incidents of aggression, including the killing of a man in Dodamarg earlier this year. Officials argue that his young age and lack of a guiding adult elephant have contributed to his unpredictable movements, making relocation essential for the safety of both the elephant and local residents.
Meanwhile, farmers in the Mopa-Ugvem area have appealed to the government for urgent action, stating that the elephant’s presence has caused considerable losses and heightened fear in the community. They have demanded that authorities expedite efforts to rescue and shift Omkar to prevent further damage.
