BJP MLA Harish Poonja triggered a heated debate in the Assembly, urging the government to issue gun licences to farmers to counter wild elephant attacks.
Published Dec 14, 2024 | 12:00 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 14, 2024 | 12:00 PM
AI-powered elephant detection system to go live on Kerala-TN rail stretch by 30 July
The winter session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly being held in Belagavi witnessed a heated debate on Thursday, 12 December, over a jumbo-sized problem.
Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja triggered the debate by proposing gun licences to farmers to address the escalating wild elephant menace.
Frustrated with the growing human-wildlife conflict, the BJP MLA argued that drastic measures were necessary to protect farmers from wild elephants threatening their crops and lives.
However, his demand drew sharp criticism from Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, who condemned the suggestion as reckless and unlawful. Wildlife activists, meanwhile, called for sustainable solutions to address the crisis.
The elephant menace has become a pressing issue for farmers and coffee estate owners in Karnataka, particularly in districts like Chikkamagaluru and Hassan. Once confined to forests, elephants are now straying into villages and farmlands, destroying crops and disrupting livelihoods.
The destruction of habitats due to unregulated resort development and linear infrastructure projects have forced the elephants into human territories, escalating conflicts. Beyond crop losses, farmers face a severe labour crisis as migrant workers refuse to work in wildlife attacks-prone areas, despite offering higher wages.
While activists blame habitat fragmentation and poor forest management for the problem, the government has implemented measures like solar fencing, and elephant-proof trenches, besides constituting Elephant Task Forces (ETFs) to mitigate the conflict.
Despite these efforts, activists and experts call for better maintenance of existing infrastructure, restoration of elephant corridors, and greater involvement of tribal communities in managing the crisis.
Highlighting an increase in elephant menace in his constituency during the question hour, Poonja urged the state government to issue gun licences to farmers as a drastic measure to curb the elephant menace and called for immediate intervention to protect farmers.
#Karnataka: @BJP4Karnataka‘s Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja demands the government to provide gun licenses to farmers to kill elephants to end the tusker menace.
Expressing dismay over the Forest Department’s inaction against the elephant menace in rural areas of Belthangady… pic.twitter.com/t72xevufhI
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) December 12, 2024
Condemning Poonja’s statement, Minister Khandre emphasised that such a demand was inappropriate for someone in a responsible position. “We cannot permit actions that violate the law,” he said, reiterating that the government would not endorse such measures.
However, Khandre acknowledged the growing human-elephant conflict. “The state government is making extensive efforts to mitigate this issue, including solar fencing, developing elephant-proof trenches, rail barricades along elephant corridors, establishing Elephant Task Forces (ETFs), using AI cameras, and installing radio collars to track elephant movements,” he said.
Replying to Poonja, Khandre detailed the government’s initiatives, stating that 284.2 km of elephant-proof trenches and 369.31 km of rail barricades have been constructed to prevent tuskers from entering human habitats. He also pointed out the implementation of an advanced alert system that sends messages to residents about elephant movements.
According to the Forest Department, 101 people have lost their lives in elephant attacks over the past three years. In 2022-23, 32 people were killed; in 2023-24, 48 deaths were reported; and in 2024-25 (up to November), 21 fatalities were recorded.
Additionally, the department reported that in the past two years (2022-23 and 2023-24), 71,113 acres of crops were damaged by elephants, resulting in the government disbursing ₹54 crore as compensation. During the same period, 3,687 properties were also damaged in elephant raids.
Farmers and coffee estate owners in Karnataka are grappling with an escalating elephant menace, which is not only causing extensive crop damage but also creating a severe labour crisis.
Once limited to forested areas like the Bhadra River backwaters, elephants are now venturing into villages and coffee estates in search of food, destroying crops such as paddy, banana, and coffee.
“Elephant menace existed earlier but was minimal. Elephants were usually spotted near the Bhadra River backwaters or deep within the forests,” Chikkamagaluru-based farmer Ranjith Kandya told South First.
“The situation has worsened over the past two years. Banana, paddy, and coffee growers are the hardest hit. Many farmers have stopped cultivating bananas due to the problem. Annually, around 20 to 30 percent of crops get affected,” Kandya said.
“While the elephant population has grown, bamboo and other fodder have diminished. Herds are venturing into villages and towns in search of food, escalating human-wildlife conflicts across Chikkamagaluru,” he added.
When asked how people are managing the issue, Kandya said predicting the movement of elephants was difficult. “Villagers have stopped stepping out of their homes in the evenings. The forest department is doing its best by providing crackers to drive the elephants back into the forest, and issuing alert messages about elephant movements.”
However, he pointed out gaps in the preparedness. “The forest department seems inadequately equipped. They’ve set up an Elephant Task Force in Mudigere, but more ETFs are needed in vulnerable areas.”
He also noted how wildlife issues were affecting labour availability. “The presence of elephants, tigers, and other wildlife in coffee estates and fields is making labourers reluctant to work.”
“Many are migrant workers from northern states. Despite offering higher wages, they refuse to work in areas frequented by wild animals,” the farmer said.
Hassan’s Belur coffee estate owner Suraj shared similar concerns. “We’ve been facing elephant menace since the 1990s. Initially, it was concentrated in Sakleshpura taluk, but now it’s shifted to Belur taluk. It’s common to see not just one or two elephants but herds of 20 to 25.”
“There are no forest areas in Belur taluk anymore. Elephants often stay overnight in coffee estates. It takes eight to 10 years to grow crops, but elephants destroy them in minutes. Approximately 30 to 40 percent of crops are damaged during a single visit. They even damage areca plants, seemingly for amusement,” Suraj said.
He said the farmers use crackers to scare the elephants away, but the forest department has advised against using them during the day. “Only in the evening do use firecrackers to chase away the elephants. The forest department appears helpless.”
When asked about labour issues, he said laborers, mostly from Assam, Jharkhand, and Odisha, were unwilling to work due to the elephant menace.
“Once elephants are spotted in the estate, they refuse to return to work. This is causing significant problems for us, including a severe labour shortage,” Suraj said.
Wildlife activist Joseph Hoover attributed the escalating elephant menace to a combination of factors, including the rising elephant population and the destruction of their natural habitats caused by linear infrastructure projects and unregulated resort development.
“There has been a noticeable rise in the elephant population in Karnataka. However, their habitats are being destroyed due to linear projects and the proliferation of resorts,” he said.
“All elephant corridors have been fragmented, forcing elephants to venture into villages and towns in search of food. We have obliterated their habitats and corridors, and forest management has been grossly inadequate,” Hoover criticised the forest department.
“The forests are overrun with plants like lantana, Senna spectabilis, and eupatorium, which elephants do not consume. Elephants primarily feed on grass, bamboo, and tree bark. An adult elephant requires 100 to 180 kilograms of food and 150 liters of water daily,” he explained.
“We have deprived them of their basic needs. By destroying their corridors, we have left them with no choice but to move closer to human settlements,” Hoover added.
On elephant movement, Hoover said the animals have remarkable memories. “They follow the same paths, guided by their knowledge of food and water availability. These routes are deeply ingrained in their memory, and they prefer travelling along familiar corridors.”
“When these areas are fragmented, isolated groups of elephants establish territories. However, for genetic enrichment and population dynamics, intact corridors are vital. Restoring these corridors is of utmost importance,” he added that people should cooperate.
Highlighting the inadequacy of current measures, Hoover said while the elephant population had grown, the forest department’s efforts to address the issue were insufficient.
“Strategies like solar fencing and elephant-proof trenches are ineffective due to poor maintenance. Proper upkeep could resolve at least 10 percent of the problem,” he opined.
“Rail barricades are also ineffective as elephants often find ways to go over or under them, sometimes resulting in fatalities. The government must focus on restructuring and restoring elephant corridors. This is crucial, yet no significant progress has been made,” he pointed out.
Expressing concern, he said, resorts were being developed in elephant corridors. Shockingly, some wildlife conservationists were also involved in building these illegal resorts. “The government and forest department should intervene to stop this trend.”
“There are currently 47 applications pending approval for constructing resorts in Bandipur Reserve Forest. This reflects a complete failure of forest management in Karnataka,” Hoover pointed out.
Hoover asserted that the inclusion of tribespeople in the ETF would help tackle or manage the elephant menace better.
When asked how people should deal with the elephant menace, he said, “People are generally aware and compassionate. They coexist with wildlife and love animals. They only react strongly when there’s a death or significant damage. Otherwise, they adapt well to the situation.”
“The government has formed an Elephant Task Force, which is a good initiative. However, the staff lacks the necessary experience and understanding of elephant behaviour. It’s crucial to train ETF personnel in understanding elephants and their behaviour,” Hoover opined.
“The task force must include tribal communities. Tribals have lived in forests for generations and understand the nuances of wildlife and forest management. Involving them in the ETF is essential, but this aspect has been overlooked,” he added.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
