Gentle Giant Roams Shivamogga Forests, Steals Hearts

On September 27th, 2025, the Mallanduru elephant, a lone tusker, was spotted near the PWD guest house in Agumbe, Shivamogga district. This elephant is known for its mild nature, despite killing a farmer at Mallanduru in 2013, with no reported incidents since then.

The villages around Agumbe, once Naxal-affected areas, are still beautiful hamlets on the border of Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts. The Mallanduru elephant has no companion and does not live in a herd. Some experts say that having crossed 40 years of age helps it live separately as a solitary traveler.

The elephant is capable of climbing tough hills, including Narasimhaparvata, a forest department-approved wild trekking route about 20 kilometres from Mallanduru in Shivamogga to Kigga in Sringeri. It usually stays in the Someshwara wildlife division of Kuduremukh circle and rarely appears in the Shivamogga side of the forest. Currently, it is roaming in the Agumbe area and was spotted on the premises of the PWD guest house, where the caretaker is seen shouting and asking it to go back. The elephant's rare gesture of throwing a twig and reacting gently before moving further has stolen the hearts of animal lovers.