28-member Elephant Task Force constituted for Dakshina Kannada district in coastal Karnataka

Karnataka forms a 28-member Elephant Task Force in Dakshina Kannada to address human-elephant conflict, and enhance safety.

Karnataka government has issued an order constituting a 28-member Elephant Task Force (ETF) for Dakshina Kannada district to drive back elephants to forest to mitigate human-animal conflict. The ETF will be based in Sullia.

ETF personnel will patrol areas where wild elephants frequent farmland and residential localities, and drive them back to the forest.  | Photo Credit: Photo for representation only

The ETF will function under the supervision of Deputy Conservator of Forest, Mangaluru division, according to the order issued by the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment on March 2. The force includes a Deputy Range Forest Officer, two forest guards, and 25 outsourced staff, including vehicle drivers.

The personnel will patrol areas where wild elephants frequent farmland and residential localities, and drive them back. The force will pass on messages regarding the movement of elephants in such areas to the forest control room, to be set up in Sullia, in turn, to alert people. The phone number of the control room is to be shared widely.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest Force should provide three jeeps of the department to the ETF. In addition, two trucks should be arranged on rental basis. In addition, other equipment, such as walkie-talkie and guns, crackers and other facilities, should be arranged.

The menace of wild elephants has been reported from Uppinangady, Sullia, Belthangady, Puttur, Panja and Subrahmanya forest ranges in recent years, according to the order.