Hassan: Deputy Conservator of Forests B. Basavaraj said that the Department would conduct a scientific study of wild elephants which has been attacking the same area frequently.
Speaking to mediapersons on Monday November 28 he said that the State Government has appointed the officers for the task force to prevent the menace of wild elephants in the District. He said that in a recent meeting chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, a Government order was issued to form a task force to control the elephant menace in Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Mysuru and Kodagu Districts. As per the order, State Forest Department formed Elephant Task Force under the leadership of the Deputy Conservator of Forests to prevent this.
He said that the task force will consist of 50 personnel including 1 range forest officer and 4 Deputy RFOs and 32 forest guards. He said the makana elephant which was captured last June-July, has now attacked farmer Girish’s house again, and it has been suggested to conduct a study under the leadership of Nishant, a Scientist at the Indian Institute of Research and Science. The DCF said that further action will be taken after receiving their report.
DCF advised the people to protect the rice and other dry grains stored in the houses of the village by spraying pesticides so that wild animals do not perceive it through smell.
The wild elephants move in groups of four, each group having 15 to 22 elephants, and a proposal has been submitted to the Government to install radio collars on the two female elephants that breed. A proposal will be submitted to capture a male elephant. He said that the operation will be started soon. A total of 11.5 km of railway barricade is being constructed in the elephant attack area. “The construction of hanging electric fence is more effective in preventing the elephant attack, and a plan has been made to construct a 3.5 km fence in the large hill area of Alur. Two kilometres of electric fencing has already been installed in the Arakalagudu section and 2-watt electric fence in the Yasalur section, he noted.
He said that more railway barricades will be constructed in the coming days.
