The Hindu : Karnataka News : Revered then, feared now

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Monday, Sep 10, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Revered then, feared now

Elephants have created a fear psychosis among the people

Marching ahead: An elephant herd on the prowl in the plains of Kodagu district.

There was a time when people performed puja when an elephant strayed into human habitation in Kodagu, as it was considered auspicious. But the same elephants have turned killers now.

As many as five people have been killed and over 25 injured by the pachyderms in the district since June this year.

And, there is virtually no place in the district which the elephants have not visited. They have created a fear psychosis among the people.

Coffee plantations have become home for a big herd at Maldare, says Nanda Subbaiah, a progressive coffee grower there. New-born calves in the plantations there have not seen forests. Labourers work in constant fear and their children are scared to go out to schools.

Fragmentation of forests, especially in the northern parts of the district bordering Hassan, poor availability of fodder in the forests, drying up of water bodies in summer and encroachment by people of the elephant corridors, are some of the reasons for increase in the elephant menace in Kodagu, says B.B. Mallesh, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Madikeri division.

The elephant numbers have gone up in recent years. According to Forest department sources, there could be 500 to 600 elephants in the district. But, exact count is not possible as they keep migrating from one place to another, even walking up to 30 km to 40 km a day. Farmers in Besur and Hampapura areas of Madikeri division have stopped growing crops for fear of elephant depredations, Mr. Mallesh said.

Elephants have mastered the knack of besting the elephant proof trenches (EPTs) to prevent them from straying. Solar fencing does work some times. Putting up physical barriers such as concrete walls is ruled out in view of the costs. The ‘Public Liability Insurance’ proposed by the Forest Department for people vulnerable to elephant attacks in the “ecologically fragile” forest fringes recently is nothing but saying, “you be prepared for the eventual thing.”

Two months ago, a wild tusker ran amok and forced people at Kodange hadi (tribal colony) in Virajpet taluk to abandon their huts. Fearing for their lives, the hapless Adivasis had to construct “houses” atop trees.

The Centre is yet to grasp the seriousness of the problem in Kodagu.

The Forest Department here sought permission to capture as many as 25 elephants, but it was granted only for two. And, rains have impeded the capture process in the district.

Proposals are being sent time and again to the State and the Union governments seeking funds for taking steps to tackle elephant menace in the district, but most of them are gathering dust.

A fresh Rs. 15-crore proposal is ready to be dispatched.

Jeevan Chinnappa in Madikeri

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