Mysuru Dasara Elephant Marthanda Dies After Fatal Clash At Kodagu Dubare Camp

A day after a violent clash between two captive elephants at Dubare Elephant Camp claimed the life of a tourist from Chennai, injured elephant Marthanda has also died due to severe wounds suffered during the fight in the Cauvery river.

The tragic incident took place on May 18 during a public elephant bathing session at the popular Kodagu tourist camp, when captive elephants Marthanda and Kanjan suddenly turned aggressive inside the river. A tourist from Tamil Nadu who was watching the bathing activity got caught in the chaos and died after being trapped during the clash.

Meanwhile, Marthanda - a 53-year-old makna elephant weighing around 4,500 kg - battled critical injuries overnight before dying on Tuesday morning despite treatment efforts by Forest Department officials and veterinarians.

The double tragedy has shocked mahouts, kavadis, tourists and Forest Department staff associated with the camp.

Kodagu district in-charge minister N. S. Boseraju described the incident as an unforeseen disaster and said steps would be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. The Karnataka Forest Department has announced ₹20 lakh compensation for the deceased tourist's family.

Following the incident, the Karnataka government has initiated a review of safety measures at Dubare Elephant Camp and other elephant camps across the state. Officials are expected to consider stricter crowd control norms, tighter tourist access rules and stronger supervision during public elephant interactions.

Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar B. Khandre termed the incident "unexpected and unimaginable" and expressed grief over the deaths of both the tourist and the elephant.

The minister has also directed that elephant Kanjan will no longer participate in future Mysuru Dasara celebrations.

According to officials, Marthanda had been captured in Alur taluk of Hassan district in 2023, while Kanjan, aged 26, was captured near Yeslur in Hassan district in 2014 and had participated in the Mysuru Dasara procession three times.

Witnesses said the clash between the two elephants inside the Cauvery was sudden and extremely fierce, leaving handlers with little time to respond.

"The elephant had suffered severe injuries in the fight and was battling for life. However, it breathed its last on Tuesday morning," Boseraju said while confirming Marthanda's death.

The incident has once again brought focus on safety concerns surrounding human interaction with captive elephants at tourism centres in Karnataka, with officials now under pressure to tighten regulations and improve risk management measures at elephant camps.