Two Elephants Dead drowning in Karnataka's Kanakapura range

KANAKAPURA, BENGALURU RURAL: Two young male elephants, estimated between 15 and 25 years old, perished after becoming trapped in the thick slush and aquatic weeds of the Arkavathi river backwaters near Kunnur village, Kanakapura.
The elephants were part of a herd that had strayed from Bannerghatta National Park, reportedly in search of food—a clear indicator of habitat degradation and resource scarcity. Having been spotted in the area for nearly a week, Forest Department staff were allegedly attempting to "drive them back" when the tragedy occurred. As per officials the animals became fatally stuck in the deep silt and mud of the Harobele dam backwaters while attempting to cross the river, eventually succumbing to drowning and exhaustion. The Post Mortem results are yet to submitted.
CRITIQUE: This is a predictable, systemic failure. The deaths expose the department's reactionary approach: known environmental hazards like the silted backwaters were left unsecured, despite local staff being aware of the herd's presence for days. The continuous loss of elephant lives due to habitat encroachment and a lack of effective, proactive corridor management confirms that official conservation efforts are failing to meet the basic survival needs of these animals.