The government plans to construct an additional 300 km of rail barricades at a cost of Rs 500 crore in the forest areas of the state, to address the human-elephant conflict, said Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre.
"There are elephants outside the forests, in coffee estates. There is no difference between forests and coffee estates for elephants. About 214 elephants are outside forests in Kodagu, 60-70 in Hassan. This is leading to loss of lives," Khandre said.
He noted that the government has already installed 3,807 km of tentacle fencing and 2,711 km of elephant trench.
He also said the implementation of Wildlife Protection Act has led to an increase in animal population.
Citing the 2022 census, the Minister highlighted that Karnataka has the highest number of elephants in the country at 6,395, a number that is likely even higher now.
The state also has the second-highest tiger population, with 563. "There are thousands of leopards," he said and emphasised that developmental works like national highways, electricity connections contribute to the problem by causing fragmentation of elephant corridors.