Elephant Marthanda was attacked by Kanjan at the Dubare Elephant Camp where a woman tourist from Tamil Nadu died as collateral in the fight. Photo: PTI
Dubare tusker clash: Elephant dies after Chennai tourist killed at Karnataka camp
Marthanda died from severe injuries after a clash with another elephant at Karnataka’s Dubare camp, where a Chennai tourist was crushed to death
Marthanda, the 53-year-old elephant at the centre of a deadly clash at Karnataka's Dubare Elephant Camp in Kodagu, succumbed to his injuries on May 19, a day after the same incident claimed the life of a 33-year-old tourist from Chennai.
Veterinarians who treated Marthanda said the excessive loss of blood had severely compromised the functioning of his heart. A postmortem is being conducted to determine the extent of damage to internal organs and establish the exact cause of death.
What triggered the clash
The tragedy unfolded on May 18 during a routine bathing session at the camp. Kanjan, a 26-year-old tusker, attacked Marthanda on the stomach and legs, near the river's edge. Despite repeated attempts by mahouts to bring the animals under control, Kanjan continued to attack Marthanda for nearly 15 minutes, preventing the older elephant from getting back up.
As Marthanda fell, the Chennai tourist who was watching the bathing session nearby was trapped beneath him and died on the spot. Her husband and young child narrowly escaped. The grieving husband chose to donate his wife's eyes in the aftermath of the tragedy.
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According to an official statement, Marthanda, aged 53 and weighing 4,500 kg, was captured in Alur in Hassan district in 2023. Kanjan, aged 26, was captured near Yesalur in Hassan district in 2014 and had participated in the Dasara festivities three times.
Camp closed, inquiry ordered
The Dubare Elephant Camp has been shut for two days as a precautionary measure, with all tourist entry suspended. The boating service across the Cauvery river that ferries visitors to the camp has also been stopped. The forest department has announced compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the deceased's family.
Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre called the incident "extremely tragic" and directed that Kanjan be barred from all future Dasara celebrations. Kodagu's in-charge minister NS Boseraju has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into whether there was any lapse in visitor management or safety protocols.
New safety rules for camps
The state government has directed the forest department to draw up a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for all elephant camps across Karnataka. Going forward, tourists will only be permitted to watch elephant bathing from a minimum distance of 100 feet. Trekking operations at Dubare have also been suspended pending the SOP's full implementation.
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A warning long in the making
According to reports, forest officials, speaking on background, have acknowledged that elephant fights at camps are not uncommon, and that Dubare, which houses the highest number of captive elephants in Karnataka, is particularly vulnerable given how closely tourists interact with the animals during bathing sessions. The camp has been shut before over safety concerns, only to be reopened under pressure from stakeholders.
In 2019, the camp was temporarily closed after an elephant named Gopi escaped while in musth, a state of heightened aggression in male elephants. An investigation into possible mahout negligence in Monday's incident is currently underway, and police are in the process of registering a case.
(With agency inputs)