Kodagu district accounts for 38% of State’s human-wildlife conflict deaths: Minister

Forest Minister Eshwar B. Khandre has instructed officials to ensure the proper maintenance of elephant trenches and solar-powered fencing installed to control human–elephant conflict in Kodagu district.

Expressing concern over the loss of human lives due to wildlife conflicts in Kodagu, the Minister directed that the repair and maintenance of the existing 422 km of elephant trenches and 544 km of hanging solar fences be completed within one month.

Mr. Khandre was speaking at a meeting held recently in Bengaluru with Kodagu MLAs — A.S. Ponnanna and Mantar Gowda — and Darshan Dhruvanarayan, Nanjangud MLA, and senior forest officials.

He noted that 38% of deaths due to human–wildlife conflict in the State are reported from Kodagu district and instructed officials to increase patrolling. The Minister also directed that the elephant task force, rapid response teams, and other human–wildlife conflict mitigation units be strengthened.

Four vehicles have already been purchased in addition to the existing six to enable staff to respond quickly when elephants and other wildlife enter plantations, he said.

He added that instructions have been issued to procure four more vehicles and to engage enthusiastic local youth on an outsourced basis to join the task force and enhance field-level operations.

Mr. Khandre also directed officials to take the necessary steps to operationalise a robust wireless network to transmit information on wildlife movement and to prevent illegal tree felling and wildlife poaching.

The Minister instructed that data be collected on the number of workers employed in plantations across each zone in Kodagu district. Steps should be taken to immediately alert these workers through WhatsApp and via vehicles fitted with public address systems whenever wildlife, especially elephants, approach human settlements or plantation areas.

With an intense summer expected from the last week of March to May, Mr. Khandre directed officials to ensure that there is no shortage of water and fodder for wildlife in forests. He also asked them to share information with the public and local representatives regarding water levels in forest water bodies.

The Minister advised forest officials to maintain cordial relations with local communities, stating that better cooperation from people would help in resolving issues effectively.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force Meenakshi Negi, Chief Wildlife Warden Kumar Pushkar, and senior forest officials, including Manoj Rajan, Manoj Kumar, and Sonal Vrisni, were present.