In a bid to address the escalating human-elephant conflict in Kodagu district, Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has instructed officials to maintain elephant trenches and install solar fences. Chairing a meeting with senior officials, Khandre emphasized the need to mitigate wildlife-related incidents that have resulted in fatalities.
He called for the prompt completion of repairs on 422 km of trenches and 544 km of fences within a month. Highlighting that 38% of wildlife conflict deaths in the state occur in Kodagu, the minister urged increased patrolling and the strengthening of task forces. The initiative includes procuring additional vehicles and hiring local youth to boost operational capacity.
Khandre also pushed for the enhancement of wireless networks for better monitoring of wildlife movements and to combat illegal activities. Emphasizing community cooperation, he tasked officials with maintaining cordial relations with locals and ensuring they receive timely alerts when wildlife approaches human habitats.
(With inputs from agencies.)