Panaji: Omkar, the sub-adult elephant who has repeatedly strayed from its herd and ventured towards Goa, has once again been sighted close to the state’s border, making it the jumbo’s third attempt to visit the state this year. The elephant was spotted near Netarde in Maharashtra, a village 3km from the Goa border. The sighting has prompted the forest department to keep a close watch on the area.“Our teams are maintaining surveillance along the border. The rescue squad has also been alerted to respond if the elephant enters Goa,” a forest official said.Omkar was previously spotted near the Goa border in the last week of March and again in the last week of May. His movements have been closely monitored since last year, when the young elephant began travelling far away from its herd in Maharashtra, believed to have strayed as much as 25km from its family before eventually becoming separated from a herd of six.After wandering alone through parts of Sindhudurg district, Omkar crossed into Goa on Sep 13, 2025. The elephant spent nearly a month moving through villages including Tamboxem, Ugvem, and Mopa, where it raided plantations and damaged crops before it eventually moved back towards Maharashtra.Omkar later reunited with its herd in Jan this year. However, the subsequent sightings close to the Goa border indicate that the elephant may again be moving independently or venturing considerable distances from its herd.
