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Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre on Monday directed senior forest department officials to maintain constant surveillance in areas prone to human-wildlife conflict and take all necessary measures to protect human lives and farmers' crops.
The directive comes in the wake of two recent deaths due to elephant attacks in Chikkamagaluru district.
Expressing grief over the fatalities, the minister stressed that forest officials must act immediately when elephants are spotted in human settlements. He said locals should be alerted promptly and emergency measures taken to drive the animals back into the forest.
The State Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment also instructed officials to provide compensation to the families of the deceased.
He appealed to the public to remain vigilant during early mornings and after dark, particularly when elephant movement has been reported in the area.
According to officials, a woman was killed in an elephant attack at Bannur near Balehonnur on the night of July 23. In a separate incident, a 63-year-old farmer died in a similar attack near his farm in Kadavanthi village, also near Balehonnur, on the evening of July 27.
The minister asked officials to investigate why elephants are entering human habitations despite the availability of food—such as grass, leaves, and shrubs—in the forest, and the presence of water in lakes and ponds following widespread rainfall across the state. He directed the department to take necessary preventive measures and address any contributing factors.
A study has been ordered to investigate the expansion of conflict zones, with a report to be submitted to the ministry.