Panaji: Omkar, the sub-adult elephant that has been moving between Goa and Maharashtra, has returned to Goa. A forest department team in Tamboxem monitors the tusker.According to a senior forest official, Omkar entered Goa on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday after being driven back from Maharashtra by farmers. The elephant’s return comes at a sensitive time, with Ganesh Chaturthi approaching and increased public movement expected in villages on both sides of the Goa-Maharashtra border.“We are closely monitoring Omkar’s movements and taking precautions to prevent any confrontation between the animal and people during the festive period,” a forest official said.Omkar has damaged some plantain crops while feeding through agricultural areas in Pernem.The latest return follows Omkar’s earlier movement into Maharashtra last month, wherein the animal had travelled nearly ten kilometres away from the Goa border. This is his fourth return to Goa this year.
