Following the ever-increasing incidence of crop damage, and human killings by wild elephants has led the forest department to consider domesticating them.
Wild elephants from Karnataka regularly stray into these villages and damage crops
Following the ever-increasing incidence of crop damage, and at times of human killings, by wild elephants on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border has led the state forest department to consider domesticating the rampaging tuskers.
Tired of compensating the farmers for deaths and trampled crop, the department is trying to explore the utility of the wild animals for proposed eco-tourism which includes elephant safaris in the various sanctuaries and national parks in the region.
“Wild animals that stray into human settlements will be rehabilitated on a 400-acre land in the possession of the forest department. Post-domestication, these elephants can also be used for promoting tourism,” said state forest minister Babanrao Pachpute.
Wild elephants have been creating havoc for farmers in Marathwada, with the problem being especially severe in Sindhudurg and Kolhapur districts.
Many of the affected villages lie along the Maharashtra-Karnataka border. Wild elephants from Karnataka regularly stray into these village and damage crops, and at times even attack people who try to turn them away from their farms.
The state forest department compensates death caused by wildlife reasons by paying a relief amount of Rs2 lakh to the affected family. This, while injuries are compensated with relief of up to Rs50,000.
For now, as a precautionary measure, the state forest department has started erecting a solar compound wall at the border to prevent elephants from entering the state.
According to sources in forest ministry, the compound will have sufficient voltage to deter elephants from crossing the border without harming the animal.
The department, which is yet to pay nearly Rs4 crore as compensation across the state, has listed many other hurdles that domestication and rehabilitation of the wild elephants may be required to clear.
A senior forest department official said that finding mahouts for these elephants could prove to be a difficult affair.
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