Bengaluru
Expressing shock and grief over the death of five people due to wild elephant attacks since August 13, Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Ishwar Khandre has instructed forest officials to create more awareness among the people on the fringes of the forest and take precautionary measures in this regard. The minister, who held a meeting with top officials of the forest department at Vikasa Soudha on Tuesday, expressed concern over the increase in human-wildlife conflict.
There should be no loss of precious human lives, while wild animals should also not die due to illegal electric fencing and falling into the fence. The Minister directed the concerned forest officials to take strict action in this regard.
The Minister directed that when elephants are spotted near habitations, farmers’ farms, fields, they should be returned to the forest at the earliest and the people in the vicinity should be informed through WhatsApp, SMS and public publicity methods to minimise the loss of lives.
Minister Ishwar Khandre also instructed to increase the number of elephant rapid action force groups in Chamarajanagar and Kodagu regions where the elephant menace is high.
Railway barricades are the best way to prevent wild elephants from entering the country. Officials said that barricades are being put up to identify areas where elephants come mostly towards the state.
