<p>Belur (Hassan dist): Karnataka is at the forefront of rescuing and taming wild elephants in India, said Forest, Wildlife and Environment Minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/eshwar-khandre">Eshwar B Khandre</a>.</p><p>After laying the foundation for the Elephant Task Force office at Bikkodu in Belur taluk, Hassan district, on Tuesday, Khandre said the population of wild animals has increased due to the strict implementation of the Wildlife Protection Act.</p><p>"Karnataka has the highest number of elephant population, estimated at 6,395, as per the census. Hence, there is a need to find a permanent solution to the man-animal conflict," he said.</p>.Khandre bats for govt approval if project needs felling of more than 50 trees.<p><strong>Jumbos camping in farms</strong></p><p>The elephant menace has increased in Hassan district over the last 10 to 20 years, with many incidents of man-animal conflict. Even after the Forest department relocates the jumbos, they return to the same forest after a few days. Around 50 to 60 wild jumbos are camping in plantations and estates. The situation is similar in Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts, Khandre said.</p><p>As the forest and farms and plantations look similar, the elephants keep roaming freely here. Hence, the department is taking all possible measures, like erecting railway track barricades, digging of elephant trenches, and solar fencing to prevent straying of elephants into villages, he said.</p><p>The Forest department has been directed to capture rogue elephants that create trouble for the people and the department has been successfully doing it, he added.</p><p>As the elephant menace is more in the Bikkodu region, the Elephant Task Force should set up a camp. It has been directed that a team, led by a DCF-level officer, should monitor the movement of elephants and alert the public on time. A temporary camp has been set up here. A building is being constructed and I will inaugurate it soon, the minister said.</p><p><strong>Elephant soft release centre</strong></p><p>The elephant sanctuary or the soft release centre is a new concept and experiment. It is being done for the first time in Karnataka. Around 80% of the officials have opined that it would resolve the wild jumbo issue to a certain extent. However, the remaining 20% officials say that it is not a suitable concept. The state government is going ahead and a tender would be invited in the next 15 to 20 days. The works would start within two months, Khandre assured.</p><p>MP Shreyas Patel, MLA Suresh, Conservator of Forest Yedukondalu and Deputy Conservator of Forest Saurabh Kumar were present.</p>
<p>Belur (Hassan dist): Karnataka is at the forefront of rescuing and taming wild elephants in India, said Forest, Wildlife and Environment Minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/eshwar-khandre">Eshwar B Khandre</a>.</p><p>After laying the foundation for the Elephant Task Force office at Bikkodu in Belur taluk, Hassan district, on Tuesday, Khandre said the population of wild animals has increased due to the strict implementation of the Wildlife Protection Act.</p><p>"Karnataka has the highest number of elephant population, estimated at 6,395, as per the census. Hence, there is a need to find a permanent solution to the man-animal conflict," he said.</p>.Khandre bats for govt approval if project needs felling of more than 50 trees.<p><strong>Jumbos camping in farms</strong></p><p>The elephant menace has increased in Hassan district over the last 10 to 20 years, with many incidents of man-animal conflict. Even after the Forest department relocates the jumbos, they return to the same forest after a few days. Around 50 to 60 wild jumbos are camping in plantations and estates. The situation is similar in Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts, Khandre said.</p><p>As the forest and farms and plantations look similar, the elephants keep roaming freely here. Hence, the department is taking all possible measures, like erecting railway track barricades, digging of elephant trenches, and solar fencing to prevent straying of elephants into villages, he said.</p><p>The Forest department has been directed to capture rogue elephants that create trouble for the people and the department has been successfully doing it, he added.</p><p>As the elephant menace is more in the Bikkodu region, the Elephant Task Force should set up a camp. It has been directed that a team, led by a DCF-level officer, should monitor the movement of elephants and alert the public on time. A temporary camp has been set up here. A building is being constructed and I will inaugurate it soon, the minister said.</p><p><strong>Elephant soft release centre</strong></p><p>The elephant sanctuary or the soft release centre is a new concept and experiment. It is being done for the first time in Karnataka. Around 80% of the officials have opined that it would resolve the wild jumbo issue to a certain extent. However, the remaining 20% officials say that it is not a suitable concept. The state government is going ahead and a tender would be invited in the next 15 to 20 days. The works would start within two months, Khandre assured.</p><p>MP Shreyas Patel, MLA Suresh, Conservator of Forest Yedukondalu and Deputy Conservator of Forest Saurabh Kumar were present.</p>