Bengaluru: A Bengaluru-based businessman lost his life while taking a selfie with a wild elephant in the Kanakapura Wildlife Sanctuary in Ramanagara district.
Although friends initially said that the elephant had suddenly attacked, an investigation by the Forest Department revealed that the attempt to take a selfie was the cause of the tragedy.
The deceased has been identified as 52-year-old businessman Narendra Shinde, a resident of Rajarajeshwari Nagar in Bengaluru. Narendra Shinde had gone to a resort with 10 of his friends and was returning from there in three cars when the accident took place.
The incident took place at around 1.30 am on Monday near the Karabagere Lake near Basavanabetta in the Kanakapura Wildlife Sanctuary.
Shinde had got down from the car after parking the cars on the forest road between Soligere and Harihar villages.
Initially, friends who were with him claimed that the elephant attacked Shinde when he got out of the car to urinate. However, forest department officials who inspected the spot have dismissed this claim.
According to officials, Shinde had got out of the car to take a photo or selfie with the elephant standing near the lake. The elephant suddenly attacked him while he was taking a selfie with his back turned to the elephant.
The elephant’s tusks hit Shinde on his waist and back, and he fell into a nearby lake and died before he could escape. Forest department officials said that he may have died within three to five seconds of the elephant’s attack.
Later, friends tried to pull the body out of the lake with the help of locals and take it to Bengaluru. However, the incident came to light when forest officials inspected the gate.
Ramanagara Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) M. Ramakrishnappa said that blood stains were found at the scene of the incident. The distance from the car park to the lake was about 50 metres, and Shinde had no chance of escaping when the elephant attacked.
The forest department said this is the first death due to an elephant attack while trying to take a selfie or photograph in this forest area.
Meanwhile, forest officials have warned the public that going near wild animals, trying to take a photo or selfie can be life-threatening. They have advised that it is essential to maintain a safe distance from wildlife.