MADIKERI: In a relief for tourists visiting Kodagu, the Forest Department has reopened the Harangi and Mattigodu elephant camps to the public from Saturday after keeping them shut for nearly four months over safety concerns. However, the popular Dubare elephant camp will remain closed for a few more days, officials said.
The decision follows a fatal incident at Dubare in May, in which a tourist and a captive elephant died. Following the incident, the Forest Department had suspended tourist activities at elephant camps across Karnataka and launched a review of safety protocols and visitor management systems.
The reopening of Harangi and Mattigodu has been allowed under the standard operating procedure (SOP) introduced by the state government. The revised guidelines impose tighter restrictions on direct interaction between tourists and captive elephants.
Kushalnagar Range Forest Officer R Rakshith said visitors will no longer be allowed to touch elephants or approach them. During visiting hours, every elephant will remain under the supervision of its mahout. Only forest personnel, mahouts and authorised staff will be permitted inside the elephant enclosures.
As part of the enhanced safety measures, railway-style barricades have been installed around the elephant enclosures. Tourists will have to remain behind a separate green barricade positioned around 10 metres away from the elephants, officials said.
Harangi currently houses six elephants, while Mattigodu has 12.
Meanwhile, Dubare, where the fatal incident occurred in May, continues to remain closed to tourists until further orders. The Forest Department has not yet announced a date for its reopening.
