PANAJI
Even as farmers in Pernem have demanded that the government deploy 'experts' to guide the lost wild elephant 'Omkar' who has been causing havoc and destroying standing crops especially in the Tambose area, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane met with Karnataka's Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre for help to rehabilitate the lost tusker at one of the neighbouring State's elephant camps.
The elephant who has got separated from its herd strayed into Goa from the forests of Maharashtra and has already destroyed crops. The elephant's presence in the vicinity has also instilled a sense of panic among residents of several villages of Pernem taluka.
"As part of the deliberations, we have requested that Omkar be rehabilitated at the Karnataka camp, where he can be given the care and environment he requires. The resolution is that this matter will be acted upon within the next 14 days,” Rane said in a post on micro-blogging site 'X'.
The meeting with Khandre was also attended by Forest department officials from both the States, he added.
Rane said that he and Khandre also discussed the need for a tripartite agreement between their States and Maharashtra to build capacities and implement coordinated strategies to mitigate human-elephant conflicts across the region.
The elephant who the Maharashtra Forest officials have identified as 'Omkar' had strayed into the border villages of Goa last Saturday-Sunday triggering panic among communities residing in those villages. Forest officials had said that the tusker had got separated and is haphazardly looking to reunite with its herd.
A team of Maharashtra forest officials is already on the job trying to guide the elephant back to its habitat while forest officials in Goa are closely monitoring its movements.
