Madikeri: The Kodagu district’s elephant camps are facing a significant shortage of female elephants, leading to increasing conflicts among the male elephants. Currently, there are 26 elephants in the Dubare camp, six in Harangi, and 11 in Mathigodu, but only a handful of females are present—three in Dubare and two in Mathigodu, all of which are either aged or calves. Harangi camp has no female elephants at all.
This imbalance has resulted in daily fights and aggressive behavior among the male elephants, posing challenges for mahouts and caretakers who struggle to control them. “Just on Sunday, a fight broke out between Dhananjay and Kanjan, causing concern not only among tourists but also among forest officials,” shared a forest official. He emphasized that if there were enough capable female elephants to balance the male population, such conflicts might be mitigated.
While the issue is also present in Mysuru district, there are relatively more female elephants in Bannerghatta. A proposal to transfer some female elephants from Bannerghatta to Kodagu has not yet materialized. Veterinarian B.C. Chettiyappa acknowledged the need for female elephants but cautioned that merely having them won’t guarantee improved behavior among males, particularly those in musth, who require careful management.
Read More: