Madikeri: A wild elephant in “musth” state is wreaking havoc by attacking other tamed elephants in the Dubare elephant training camp, sending panic waves among the Mahouts, Kavadis, forest staff and general public.
The demanding wild intruder having a free ride in the camp while hunting for feminine partners is posing serious problems to forest officials. The Dubare elephant training camp which attracts thousands of tourists a day, remains closed as the forest department is trying to drive it back into deep forest.

Musth is a periodic condition in male elephants, characterised by highly aggressive behavior and accompanied by a tremendous rise in reproductive hormones. Testosterone levels in an elephant in musth can be as much as 60 times greater than in the same elephant at other times. Scientific investigation of musth is problematic because even the most placid elephants become highly violent toward humans and other elephants during the season, because of which tamed elephants Thitharam, Ajeya and Gopi have suffered serious injuries.

Care takers of tamed elephants set camp fires at night to drive the wild “musth” jumbo back into the wild and the forest staff too are making serious efforts to neutralse its unruly behaviour. The intruder appears at unexpected hours and roams freely around stalls, rest houses and river and if its ”musth” demands are not met then it marks the beginning of end of the unfortunate!

Forest department officials have cautioned people residing around the river bank to be cautious and the Range Forest Officer (RFO) has sought permission from higher ups to drive it back into the forest and accordingly are making efforts in that direction.

However, all Mahouts, Kavadis and their family members are trembling in fear as the “musth” jumbo’s run riot is uncontrollable.