The soft-release centre will house aggressive wild elephants captured after straying into villages
Chikkamagaluru: Karnataka will set up a 5,000-acre elephant soft-release centre near Tyagadabagilu in Tarikere taluk and construct rail barricades along a 20-km stretch in Chikkamagaluru district to curb human-wildlife conflict, forest minister Ramalinga Reddy announced Tuesday. Chikkamagaluru has witnessed recurring human-elephant conflicts, with more than 15 people killed in elephant and gaur attacks over the past two years, according to forest officials. The minister said work on erecting rail barricades along a 20 km stretch would begin shortly.
They will be provided fodder and water and gradually acclimatised before they are released into the forest, Reddy said while speaking after inaugurating the Kirti Chakra Shri P Srinivas Forest Complex in Chikkamagaluru city. Farmers in Tarikere, Kadur and Ajjampura taluks have also reported crop losses. The soft-release centre will house aggressive wild elephants captured after straying into villages. Four elephant task forces are currently operating in the district. A proposal to establish four more has been submitted and is awaiting approval.
The minister also said a joint survey of forest and revenue lands was nearing completion. The remaining work, delayed by a shortage of surveyors in some areas, is expected to be completed within two to three months to address farmers’ grievances.