Karnataka forest minister says ‘Jumbos unable to distinguish between plantation and forest areas'
Bengaluru: Regretting human casualties due to elephant attacks in various parts of Karnataka, forest minister Eshwar Khandre Friday said elephants are unable to distinguish between plantations and forests. Consoling the family of Shanmukha at Baikere village in Sakaleshpur taluk of Hassan, who was killed by a wild elephant a few days ago, Khandre blamed human-elephant conflicts on encroached forest and grazing (gomala) land in rural areas.
Stating he is visiting the human-elephant conflict-hit Hassan district for the sixth time in the last two years, Khandre said, "I visited the families of elephant attack victims in the past and am now also visiting the family of Shanmukha. Our (govt's) view is that there shall not be any casualty due to wildlife conflicts in the state. But it is unfortunate that such incidents are being repeated despite the best of our conservation efforts." The minister directed forest officials to set up a unit of the Elephant Task Force at Bikkodu village and disseminate information to villagers on the movement of elephants in the region.
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Cautioning the villagers in Sakaleshpur, Khandre explained to them that jumbos are unable to differentiate between plantations and forest areas. "Wildlife scientists have revealed elephants have a strong memory, and they keep moving through the locations that were used by their predecessors. The elephant population increased in Karnataka due to stern implementation of the
Wildlife Conservation Act
. However, there has been no increase in the ratio of forest area. This, apart from rampant encroachment of forest and grazing land in and around villages, has further contributed to the problem," the minister briefed.
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Responding to a question that several villagers around Sakaleshpur and Belur, impacted by the elephant attack, are increasingly coming forward to sell off their agricultural lands to the forest department, Khandre clarified, "We will examine whether we can expand the forest area with these lands and resolve the
human-elephant conflict
. I also requested the chief minister to convene and chair a meeting of multiple departments for better coordination to address the elephant conflict."
The state govt increased the compensation to wildlife attack victims from the existing Rs 15 lakhs to Rs 20 lakhs, and the family of Shanmukha was given a Rs 20 lakh compensation cheque. "The family of the victim is demanding a govt job, and the state govt rules do not permit such demands. Nevertheless, I will personally discuss this demand with the CM and make a sincere effort in that direction," he clarified.
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