Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy to Visit Kodagu on August 28 Amid Wildlife Conflict Concerns

Karnataka Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy will visit Kodagu on August 28 amid growing concerns over human-wildlife conflict in the district.

Chief Minister’s Political Secretary and Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna said that the Minister would meet residents and people affected by wildlife conflict and hold discussions on measures to address the issue.

Ponnanna said two elephants had been captured during recent operations. However, releasing them back into the forest could result in the animals returning to plantations, underlining the need for a more systematic approach to managing captured elephants.

Kodagu currently has elephant camps at Dubare and Mathigodu, with the recently captured elephants shifted to Dubare. Ponnanna said the number of kraals at the camp should be increased and its facilities strengthened.

He also referred to a proposal for the “soft release” of elephants mooted by a previous Forest Minister. The government would consider implementing the proposal if it was found to be beneficial, he said.

Measures including railway barricades, trenches and solar fencing are being taken up in phases to restrict elephant movement into human habitations and plantations. Translocation of elephants to States with lower elephant populations could also be explored, Ponnanna said.

“There is a Project Elephant scheme, but Kodagu has not received even a single rupee under it,” he said, urging political parties to work together to find a long-term solution. He also called on Opposition leaders to meet Union Ministers and pursue the issue instead of staging protests.

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