Forest Dept submits project report to shift wild elephants

Madikeri, Aug 23 (UNI) The Karnataka Forest Department has submitted a project report to the state government to shift wild elephants from Kodagu district as they faced problems due to severe loss of habitat, shortage of food and depleting forest.

Deputy Forest officer Mallesh told newspersons here today that the project, costing Rs 15 crore, would also help solve the conflict between wildlife and the human beings.

Due to erosion of its habitat the elephants had been entering villages and had killed five people in the district during the last three months and injured 25 others.

''Only a combined effort of officials, elected representatives and government can find a permanent solution to this,'' he said.

Under the project, compensation to those killed by Pachyderms could be raised and 50 per cent subsidy could be provided for errecting solar fences to all the farmers, including free solar fence to marginal farmers and shifting or taming the wild elephants.

Mr Mallesh said a proposal of providing insurance policy was also submitted to the government for approval.

According to this proposal, the forest department would identify elephant attack prone villages and pay insurance premium.

The forest department had also requested the government to invite a central team to study the man-elephant conflict in the district, he added.

UNI