The elephant camp at Sakrebailu, located approximately 15 km from Shivamogga, has been temporarily closed to the public following directives from the Karnataka Forest Department, in the wake of a tragic incident at the Dubare elephant camp where a tourist woman lost her life and an elephant also died after a fight with another elephant on May 18.

On Thursday morning, a few visitors who arrived at the camp were turned away by staff, who informed them that the camp had been shut down until further notice. The closure comes as the Forest Department moves swiftly to put in place a safety framework for elephant camps across the State.

SOP for camps

Prasanna Krishna Patagar, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Shivamogga, confirmed the development to The Hindu. “Following instructions from our seniors in the department, the camp has been closed to the public. In the wake of the Dubare incident, the department has decided to formulate a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for elephant camps in the interest of the safety of visitors as well as the animals,” he said.

Mr. Patagar added that the preparation of the SOP could take anywhere between one week and 15 days, and the camp would be reopened only after the protocol has been finalised and effectively implemented in accordance with the directions of the State government.

The Sakrebailu elephant camp is one of the most visited eco-tourism destinations in Shivamogga district, drawing nearly 2.5 lakh visitors annually. On weekends, footfall surges to between 2,500 and 3,000 tourists, while weekdays see a steady stream of 400 to 500 visitors. The camp is home to 24 tamed elephants, and tourists have long flocked to the site to engage with the animals.