https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Operation Omkar: How Goa, Karnataka & Maharashtra Are Racing to Rewild a Young Elephant

At the heart of India’s Western Ghats, a young tusker named Omkar has sparked an unprecedented three-state wildlife operation. Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka have joined forces to safely capture and rehabilitate the 10-year-old elephant, who strayed from his herd and wandered into human settlements, causing crop damage and one fatality. The coordinated effort—codenamed Operation Omkar—blends technology, traditional expertise, and cross-border cooperation.
Indian Masterminds Stories

At just 10 years old, Omkar has become the centre of an extraordinary interstate wildlife mission. Separated from his herd in Sindhudurg (Maharashtra) earlier this year, the young elephant wandered into northern Goa and began foraging in farmland near Tamboxem village, damaging banana, coconut, and paddy crops. 

The situation has compelled Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka to unite under a common goal: guiding Omkar back into the wild and restoring his natural path. Goa’s forest department requested Karnataka’s kumki elephants and expert mahouts, while Maharashtra is preparing to receive Omkar for rehabilitation. 

Speaking Exclusively to Indian Masterminds, G. Guruprasad, Conservator of Forests (CCF), Kolhapur, said,

“We have received the official order to capture Elephant Omkar. Currently, we are waiting for assistance from the Karnataka Forest Department. The elephant has largely settled in Maharashtra, though he has been temporarily sighted moving towards Goa.

The capture order remains valid till December 31. It was issued following one human fatality and extensive crop damage reported in April. Once the monsoon stops fully, we will proceed with the capture strategy.

We are also awaiting a trained, technical mahout from Karnataka or any other state that can provide expert assistance in handling the operation.”

The rescue plan is both delicate and complex. Teams of over 60 forest officials, along with veterinarians, will deploy thermal imaging, drones, and on-ground trackers, to monitor and eventually tranquilize Omkar without causing distress.  After sedation, he could be lifted in a crane and transported to a secure elephant camp in Maharashtra—fitted with a radio collar for future monitoring. 

Shoumita Biswas, former Head of Forest Force, Maharashtra who superannuated recently says, “In my opinion, wild elephants should live in the wild. So, we must focus on creating and protecting their natural habitat. Currently, the corridor connecting three states—Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra—is fragmented. That is why elephants are actively moving into the fields. We need to work on corridor development, and technology can play a major role in this.

Earlier, a pilot project was done in Hansa, where drone-enabled thermal cameras were used to generate timely alerts. This helped reduce human-wildlife interaction to a great extent. There should be a system to generate such timely alerts regularly. The forest department and villagers need to take preventive measures to protect their crops and other important assets.

There are three key steps we must focus on: first, corridor development; second, timely tracking; and third, involving the community. A QRT team should be formed, comprising forest officials as well as villagers, so that if a wild elephant is spotted, communication can happen immediately.

In West Bengal’s Hukula and in Gadchiroli too, similar measures have been taken. There are also other ways to drive elephants away from fields, but ultimately, we need a collaborative strategy to mitigate the issue and ensure both human and elephant safety.”

While villagers suffer crop losses, they have largely shown cooperation, working with officials to minimize conflict.  Operation Omkar stands as a rare example of cross-state collaboration to protect wildlife, reinforce corridors, and prove that conservation—and coexistence—can transcend borders.

The rescue plan is both delicate and complex. Teams of over 60 forest officials, along with veterinarians, will deploy thermal imaging, drones, and on-ground trackers, to monitor and eventually tranquilize Omkar without causing distress.  After sedation, he could be lifted in a crane and transported to a secure elephant camp in Maharashtra—fitted with a radio collar for future monitoring. 

Shoumita Biswas, former Head of Forest Force, Maharashtra who superannuated recently says, “In my opinion, wild elephants should live in the wild. So, we must focus on creating and protecting their natural habitat. Currently, the corridor connecting three states—Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra—is fragmented. That is why elephants are actively moving into the fields. We need to work on corridor development, and technology can play a major role in this.

Earlier, a pilot project was done in Hansa, where drone-enabled thermal cameras were used to generate timely alerts. This helped reduce human-wildlife interaction to a great extent. There should be a system to generate such timely alerts regularly. The forest department and villagers need to take preventive measures to protect their crops and other important assets.

There are three key steps we must focus on: first, corridor development; second, timely tracking; and third, involving the community. A QRT team should be formed, comprising forest officials as well as villagers, so that if a wild elephant is spotted, communication can happen immediately.

In West Bengal’s Hukula and in Gadchiroli too, similar measures have been taken. There are also other ways to drive elephants away from fields, but ultimately, we need a collaborative strategy to mitigate the issue and ensure both human and elephant safety.”

While villagers suffer crop losses, they have largely shown cooperation, working with officials to minimize conflict.  Operation Omkar stands as a rare example of cross-state collaboration to protect wildlife, reinforce corridors, and prove that conservation—and coexistence—can transcend borders.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Election-resized
Bihar Elections 2025: 425 Observers Appointed, 28 IAS & IPS Officers to Play Key Role in Poll Monitoring
IPS-logo-resized_new
From Uniforms to Politics: Former Kerala DGP & 2 Other IPS Officers Join BJP, Back RSS as Development Ally Ahead of 'Political Shift'
bureaucracy news
Centre Cracks Down on Corruption: 13 Officers to Face Prosecution, 2 RAS Suspended, 7 Lose Pensions in Action Against 28 Officials
UPSC New Logo
UPSC to Publish Provisional Answer Key After Prelims for First Time, Enabling Objections and Transparency
Snow leopard cubs
Himachal Pradesh Records 83 Snow Leopards as Rare Pallas’s Cat and Flying Squirrel Spotted for First Time
Ministry of Mines
Ministry of Mines Opens ₹1,500 Crore Incentive Scheme for Critical Mineral Recycling in India
ICGS Akshar
ICGS Akshar Commissioned at Karaikal: Indigenous Fast Patrol Vessel Boosts Indian Coast Guard Capabilities
TEC IIIT Naya Raipur
TEC and IIIT Naya Raipur Sign MoU to Drive Innovation in 5G, 6G, and Future Telecom Standards
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr G K Goswami IPS
Everything you ever wanted to know about e-murder, e-dacoity and data safety
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Sagar Datta Majumdar UPSC CSE 2024 AIR 317
“Don’t get trapped in the vicious cycle of self-doubt,” says UPSC Achiever Sagar Datta Majumdar
Discover how Sagar Datta Majumdar from Agartala, Tripura, cracked UPSC CSE 2024 with All India Rank 317....
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Election-resized
Bihar Elections 2025: 425 Observers Appointed, 28 IAS & IPS Officers to Play Key Role in Poll Monitoring
IPS-logo-resized_new
From Uniforms to Politics: Former Kerala DGP & 2 Other IPS Officers Join BJP, Back RSS as Development Ally Ahead of 'Political Shift'
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr G K Goswami IPS
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT