<p>Bengaluru: Karnataka on Wednesday handed over six kumki (trained) elephants to Andhra Pradesh with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stating that the state would provide more elephants to others if it helps in operations to mitigate elephant conflicts.</p><p>"Karnataka has 6395 elephants, the highest for the country. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu also have elephants. There is an increase in the number of man-elephant conflicts involving crop loss and injury and deaths of humans. We have to reduce and prevent such incidents. We had agreed to provide six elephants. Today, we are handing over only four. The remaining two will be sent later. We have given elephants earlier. We intend to give more later. We have more elephants than necessary," Siddaramaiah said.</p><p>The chief minister noted that the elephants have been trained in the camp. "Apart from the elephants, Karnataka's mahouts have given training to staffers from Andhra Pradesh for one month in handling the elephants. This includes the skills required to handle the animals during rescue operations," he said, but noted that such a huge event was not required for the ceremony.</p>.Karnataka govt notifies norms to check layouts in unregulated areas.<p>Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre stressed the need for inter-state cooperation for conservation of wildlife. "The handing over of elephants will help strengthen the relationship between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The human-elephant conflict accounts for a high number of losses and extensive damage. We are taking several measures, including installation of railway barricades, to mitigate the problem," he said.</p><p>A flagging off ceremony, including a puja, marked the journey of the four elephants to Andhra Pradesh. The gesture was described by Khandre as a token of love and reverence that people have for the elephants.</p><p>Among the four, three elephants were rescued from conflict situations. Krishna, a 15-year-old elephant rescued from Chikkamagalur in 2022, 14-year-old Abhimanyu rescued in Honnali, 39-year old Deva rescued from Kushalnagar and 26-year-old Ranjan which was born in the Dubare elephant camp.</p><p><strong>Shared ecological destiny</strong></p><p>Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan, who also holds the forest portfolio, said the event marks the beginning of a march towards a shared ecological destiny. "The kumki elephants are not just gentle giants or majestic things, they are ambassadors of harmony, mentors of restraint and icons of a shared ecological destiny. With this cooperation, the forests of both states will become more secure," he said.</p><p>The actor turned politician also sought to assuage activists who had expressed concerns about handing over of elephants. "I will personally look into their well-being time to time. I will visit them. I will make sure their health is good. I promise you that if anything goes wrong, you can make me liable. We look forward to establishing modern elephant camps in Andhra Pradesh, one that reflects both traditional wisdom and modern standards of care, nutrition and ethical standards of management," he said.</p><p>Pawan Kalyan thanked Karnataka for the cooperation. "You have stood with us like a truly brotherly state. This moment marks a living chapter and living bridge of trust in our cooperation. This is not a mere relocation. This is a relaying of hope, wisdom and trust," he said.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Karnataka on Wednesday handed over six kumki (trained) elephants to Andhra Pradesh with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stating that the state would provide more elephants to others if it helps in operations to mitigate elephant conflicts.</p><p>"Karnataka has 6395 elephants, the highest for the country. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu also have elephants. There is an increase in the number of man-elephant conflicts involving crop loss and injury and deaths of humans. We have to reduce and prevent such incidents. We had agreed to provide six elephants. Today, we are handing over only four. The remaining two will be sent later. We have given elephants earlier. We intend to give more later. We have more elephants than necessary," Siddaramaiah said.</p><p>The chief minister noted that the elephants have been trained in the camp. "Apart from the elephants, Karnataka's mahouts have given training to staffers from Andhra Pradesh for one month in handling the elephants. This includes the skills required to handle the animals during rescue operations," he said, but noted that such a huge event was not required for the ceremony.</p>.Karnataka govt notifies norms to check layouts in unregulated areas.<p>Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre stressed the need for inter-state cooperation for conservation of wildlife. "The handing over of elephants will help strengthen the relationship between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The human-elephant conflict accounts for a high number of losses and extensive damage. We are taking several measures, including installation of railway barricades, to mitigate the problem," he said.</p><p>A flagging off ceremony, including a puja, marked the journey of the four elephants to Andhra Pradesh. The gesture was described by Khandre as a token of love and reverence that people have for the elephants.</p><p>Among the four, three elephants were rescued from conflict situations. Krishna, a 15-year-old elephant rescued from Chikkamagalur in 2022, 14-year-old Abhimanyu rescued in Honnali, 39-year old Deva rescued from Kushalnagar and 26-year-old Ranjan which was born in the Dubare elephant camp.</p><p><strong>Shared ecological destiny</strong></p><p>Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan, who also holds the forest portfolio, said the event marks the beginning of a march towards a shared ecological destiny. "The kumki elephants are not just gentle giants or majestic things, they are ambassadors of harmony, mentors of restraint and icons of a shared ecological destiny. With this cooperation, the forests of both states will become more secure," he said.</p><p>The actor turned politician also sought to assuage activists who had expressed concerns about handing over of elephants. "I will personally look into their well-being time to time. I will visit them. I will make sure their health is good. I promise you that if anything goes wrong, you can make me liable. We look forward to establishing modern elephant camps in Andhra Pradesh, one that reflects both traditional wisdom and modern standards of care, nutrition and ethical standards of management," he said.</p><p>Pawan Kalyan thanked Karnataka for the cooperation. "You have stood with us like a truly brotherly state. This moment marks a living chapter and living bridge of trust in our cooperation. This is not a mere relocation. This is a relaying of hope, wisdom and trust," he said.</p>