Project report submitted to reduce wildlife-human conflict

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

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.

"It is a national disaster and a combined effort of officials, elected representatives and government should find a permanent solution to avoid this," he said.

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

Mr Mallesh said that a proposal in the lines of insurance policy that exists in western countries was also submitted to government for approval. According to this proposal, forest department would identify elephant attack prone villages and pay insurance premium.

Amount would be drawn from this account as and when death took place and the family would be given cash compensation.

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

UNI