Sakrebailu Elephant Camp near Shivamogga was closed to visitors on May 21 this year.
| Photo Credit: S.K. Dinesh
The Sakrebailu Elephant Camp near Shivamogga, which was closed to visitors on May 21, 2026, will reopen on September 26.
The camp was shut to allow for stronger security measures, following an incident at the Dubare Elephant Camp in Kodagu district, where a woman visitor died during a clash between two captive elephants.
In the wake of the Dubare incident, the Forest Department decided to formulate a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for elephant camps in the interest of the safety of both visitors and the animals, and the camp was closed to enable this process to be carried out. It had earlier been expected to reopen on August 15, but the reopening was delayed on account of pending works.
As part of the new safety measures, the department has ensured that visitors will not come into direct contact with the elephants at the camp, with separate walking paths laid out for the animals and visitors, according to a communique issued by the Forest Department on Thursday.
The Sakrebailu Elephant Camp is one of the most visited ecotourism destinations in Shivamogga district, drawing more than 2.5 lakh visitors annually. Footfall surges between 2,500 and 3,000 tourists on weekends, while weekdays see a steady stream of 400 to 500 visitors. The camp is home to 24 tamed elephants.
Published – September 24, 2026 07:27 pm IST
