Karnataka Forest Department to ‘soft release’ captured jumbos into Bhadra sanctuary to mitigate human-elephant conflict in Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu

Forest Department plans to capture and rehabilitate wild elephants in Karnataka districts, releasing them into Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Forest Department is working out a plan for the capture and rehabilitation of wild elephants causing trouble in Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts through their “soft-release” into the wild. This involves releasing them in a phased manner to the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, after keeping them in an enclosure spread over 20 sqkm for a few months.

Roughly 200 elephants have been roaming in different parts of the three districts, leaving the local people in constant worry. They keep raiding crops and attacking human beings. The local people have staged protests on multiple occasions demanding the government capture all the elephants in the region.

The officers of Chikkamagaluru Circle of the Forest Department have identified four places within Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over 492.30 sqkm, for their release. The sanctuary already has roughly 450 elephants. According to officers, the area can accommodate 200 more, considering its carrying capacity.

The places had been identified considering the availability of water, forage, road connectivity and being free from human activity. One among these four places will be finalised to set up the enclosure measuring about 20 sqkm.

The enclosure will be separated from the rest of the area by railway barricades. The elephants captured will be released to the enclosure and monitored for a few months. A team of veterinarians will keep an eye on the behaviour of the elephants from the vet centre attached to the enclosure, a senior officer of the Department said.

The place will have sufficient natural food and assisted natural food for the animals. Whenever required, the veterinarians will provide medicine darts. “During those months, the animals have no interaction with human beings. Only after they are acclimatised to the environment and the veterinarians find them fit to be released to the sanctuary will the gate leading to the forest be opened,” the officer added.

An experiment on similar lines had been done in West Bengal. The Forest Department has decided to implement the plan under the guidance of a team headed by Dr. R. Sukumar, honorary professor of the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, known for his experience in wildlife management. The team includes senior officers of the department, including R. Manoj, APCCF of the Elephant Project, Chief Conservator of Forests (Development) of Hassan and Chikkamagaluru circles, among others.