Maha reins in elephant menace in Belgaum jungles

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posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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BELGAUM: A decade ago, the interstate movement of elephants and their threat to humans had become a sensitive issue for both Karna..

BELGAUM: A decade ago, the interstate movement of elephants and their threat to humans had become a sensitive issue for both Karnataka and Maharashtra.
However, the attempts of Maharashtra Forest Department (MFD) to restrict elephants in the forests of Belgaum division of Karnataka about three years ago and laying elephantproof trenches and solar fencing along the borders, brought the controversy to a halt.It may be recalled that in an attempt to lock the elephants in Karanataka jungles, MFD had laid trenches. However, before it could complete the work, a herd of elephants had already entered Maharashtra and got locked in there due to the same trenches. MFD had even killed an elephant in an attempt to tranquillise it. This attracted more trouble for MFD, which then gave up the attempt. Dy Conservator of Forests Girish Hosur informed Express that between 19952008, elephants killed 12 persons in the jungles of Belgaum division. However, after the trenches and solar fencing were put by MFD, no death was reported in Belgaum division in three years. Hosur said that in an attempt to prevent elephants from entering human habitat, Belgaum forest department has constructed several water tanks in the deep jungles and laid about 22 km elephantproof trenches in the areas.

This has helped in controlling elephanthuman conflict in the last couple of years, he said. Hosur informed that in the current scenario, the movement of about 12 to 15 elephants is reported in the jungles of Belgaum division. Last year, forest department paid a compensation of about `15 lakh for losses that occurred due to elephants.