Task force to address issue of man-elephant conflict

In a bid to resolve the ongoing problem of human-elephant conflict in Karnataka, the state forest department have announced on Saturday that a task force has been constituted to address the issue.

It was one of the several issues addressed at the national seminar, organised by the Karnataka Forest Department, which had wildlife experts discussing the pertinent issue of elephant-human conflict in the state.

The task force will consist of several noted wildlife experts such as Ajay Desai, member of Project Elephant, Dr Raman Sukumar, Indian Institute of Science and Dr NK Madhushudha, among others and will look into issues surrounding the human-elephant conflict with focus on Hassan-Kodagu area.

It was constituted at the recommendation of the High Court earlier this month.

Barriers at conflict zones
At the end of the day-long seminar, forest minister C P Yogeshwar also announced that the state will be installing barriers of high quality at various conflict zones. “The barrier system will be along the lines of what is seen in South Africa and it will involve the participation of the local community,” he said.

The minister also highlighted one the recommendations of the experts that involves the translocation of elephants at Sakaleshpur Taluk of Hassan district.

“We are planning on translocating 25 jumbo elephants from that area and placing them somewhere distant. If these elephants return, then we will have to keep them in captivity,” he said.