Fear of free-roaming elephants keeps children away from this anganwadi in Sringeri taluk

Fear of roaming elephants has drastically reduced attendance at an Anganwadi in Bhalekadi, Sringeri taluk, as families are worried about their children's safety.

Sumithra, an Anganwadi teacher, reaches her workplace at Bhalekadi, in Sringeri taluk of Chikkamagaluru district, riding her bike for five-kilometre from her home. She is joined by her assistant Meenakshi to take care of the centre. But for the past few weeks, only one child has been attending the centre.

“Earlier, eight children were regulars at the centre. After elephants started roaming in the area, parents stopped sending their children,” said Ms. Sumithra. The house of the lone child is close to the centre. She plays alone for sometime, eats and returns home.

The movement of wild elephants in the villages of Kerekatte gram panchayat, bordering the Kudremukh National Park, has impacted the lives of people. “I used to come to the centre by walk and bring all the children along with me. However, after the elephant attack in which two people were killed, the parents stopped sending children with me,” said the teacher.

The movement of wild elephants in the villages of Kerekatte gram panchayat, bordering the Kudremukh National Park, has impacted the lives of people. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Two persons died in an elephant attack near Kerekatte on October 31, 2025, following which local people staged protests. Later, the Forest Department captured the elephant suspected to have killed the two.

“We had witnessed the movement of elephants in our area. There were signs of their movements and damages caused to crops and public properties. However, the fatal incidents left all of us in shock and fear,” the teacher stated.