Overview
- Two elephants fought at the Dubare Elephant Camp and a 33-year-old tourist was killed, with a captive elephant named Marthanda later dying from injuries sustained in the May 18 incident.
- Upa Lokayukta Justice K.N. Phaneendra has taken suo motu cognisance, registered proceedings and named A. Gopal and B.K. Rakshit as respondents who must appear and explain their actions by June 24.
- The Forest Department has temporarily closed Dubare and some other camps, ordered a ban on direct feeding and set an immediate 100-foot minimum distance for visitors while drafting revised standard operating procedures.
- The Upa Lokayukta's order said there is prima facie evidence of negligence by forest authorities and framed the case as a right-to-life concern under Article 21 of the Constitution.
- Activists note a 2019 expert panel led by K.M. Chinnappa flagged weak veterinary care, poor visitor management and overstretched camps that were not fully fixed, so officials and tourists will be watching whether the new SOPs lead to real changes and discipline for lapses.