Madikeri: Farmers in Gonikoppal staged a protest on Sunday, August 23, expressing concern over increasing wild elephant attacks in Kodagu and urging the Forest Department to take immediate steps to protect people.
The protest followed the recent death of a tourist in an elephant attack at Teralu village in Ponnampet taluk. According to the Times of India report, the tourist was staying at a homestay and was attacked by a wild elephant while out for a walk.
Farmers demand permanent solution
The Kodagu district unit of the Karnataka State Farmers’ Association organised the protest to draw the government’s attention to the growing human-elephant conflict.
Farmers formed a human chain in Gonikoppal town and called for a permanent solution to the problem. They accused the Forest Department of failing to adequately prevent elephant attacks and sought stronger precautionary measures to protect residents.
District Farmers’ Association general secretary Chetrumada Sujay Bopaiah, district convener Puchchimada Subhash Subbaiah and labour leader Bharat urged the authorities to improve measures to track and manage wild elephant movement.
Two-wheeler rider narrowly escapes
The growing concern was further highlighted by an incident near Nelli Hudikeri, where a two-wheeler rider crossing a road was reportedly forced to run for his life after encountering a herd of elephants in the area.
Farmers said effective forest management and timely safety measures were necessary to reduce the risk of further encounters between people and wild elephants.
The protest comes amid growing concerns over the intensifying human-wildlife conflict in Kodagu and calls for stronger measures to safeguard both residents and visitors.