In pursuit of 23 wild jumbos
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The tranquilizers have reached and the cages are being readied — all on a large scale. It's a jumbo mission
after all. The state forest department is set to capture and tame 23
wild elephants in Hassan district;
the operation is due any time early February. The spike in man-elephant conflicts, especially in the district's Alur taluk, necessitated the move.
the operation is due any time early February. The spike in man-elephant conflicts, especially in the district's Alur taluk, necessitated the move.
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"This region has become a fragmented corridor for wild elephants. Their population has become disjointed largely due to the many hydel and thermal units operating here," said Vinay Luthra, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden, Karnataka.
Not too long ago, the area was home to 25 elephants, of which two have been captured — one in December, the other earlier this month. The latest operation follows orders from the Centre issued on the basis of recommendations placed before the Karnataka high court by the elephant task force in 2012.
"There's no other option but to capture the elephants," said Prof. Raman Sukumar, who headed the task force. As per the Centre's directions, a consultative committee meeting will be held on Thursday to vet the plan. Male elephants will be captured separately while the females, sub-adults and calves will be ensnared together. "Efforts will be made to identify families and capture them together. This will ensure the trauma they go through is minimized," said Luthra.
Kraals —
- The elephant kraal in Kodanad, near Perumbavoor, which has a long tradition of taming elephants in the State, is in a state of disrepair. Photo: Thulasi Kakkat
huge cages made from eucalyptus logs — to house captured elephants are
being readied. They'll be placed in Shimoga, Periyapatna, near Dubbare
in Madikeri district, and Mattigodu in Nagarahole. Tranquilizers reached
from Orissa two days ago. The first set of four kraals will be in place
by February 5, and soon after the operation will begin. Each kraal will
have a partition and house two elephants.
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