Energy Minister K.J. George Directs Forest Department to Act Against Rising Elephant Menace in Chikkamagaluru district
CHIKKAMAGALURU, Sept. 12, 2025 – Energy and District In-charge Minister K.J. George has issued a stern directive to the Forest Department to immediately capture or relocate wild elephants responsible for a rising tide of terror in the Malnad region, following a spate of fatal attacks and widespread crop destruction.
The order was delivered during a quarterly progress review meeting on Friday, as the minister addressed growing public fear and mounting losses for local farmers. The directive underscores the escalating human-wildlife conflict in the district, prompting urgent discussions on both immediate containment and long-term solutions.
Officials Directed to Escalate Measures
Minister George instructed Koppa Divisional Forest Officer Shivashankar to take decisive steps to mitigate the threat. “The menace of wild elephants in the Malnad region of the district is increasing day by day,” George stated. “People are forced to live in constant fear. Small farmers are losing their crops. Therefore, action must be taken to either drive away or capture the elephants.”
The call for action was strongly supported by local legislators who provided grim details from their constituencies. Shringeri MLA T.D. Rajegowda reported that a herd of five elephants has been persistently ravaging crops in the Sringeri and Balehonnur areas. The conflict has turned deadly, with four human fatalities already recorded. While two elephants have been captured, three remain at large and continue to pose a significant threat.
Proposing a Long-Term Solution: The Soft Release Centre
In response to the immediate crisis, legislators proposed a sustainable strategy for managing problematic pachyderms. Mudigere MLA Nayana Motamma suggested the establishment of a ‘soft release centre’ within a 200-hectare area of the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. This facility would serve as a dedicated zone for relocating troublesome elephants.
Motamma further recommended setting up a dedicated elephant camp in either Shringeri or Mudigere to expedite the capture and transfer process. “Starting an elephant camp… would help capture and release such elephants quickly into the soft release centre,” she said, requesting the forest department to be directed accordingly.
Pulket Meena, Director of the Bhadra Tiger Project, clarified that such an initiative would require approval from the Central Forest Department to allocate land within the Tiger Reserve. Minister George assured the assembly that he would personally take up the matter with the Union Forest Minister to seek the necessary permissions.
Cross-Party Consensus on Urgent Action
The urgency of the situation was emphasized across party lines. MLC C.T. Ravi warned that without immediate intervention, human casualties were likely to increase. “Urgent measures must be taken to control elephant attacks; otherwise, cases of human casualties will increase,” he stated.
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Broader Administrative Review and Water Project Irregularities
The meeting also addressed other district issues, notably irregularities in the Jal Jeevan Mission and multi-village drinking water projects. When concerns were raised by C.T. Ravi and Chikkamagaluru MLA H.D. Thammaiah, Minister George announced the formation of an investigative committee.
“A committee will be formed under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner to obtain a comprehensive report on the implementation of drinking water projects,” George said. “If work is undertaken without identifying the water source, strict action will be taken.”
The comprehensive review also covered compliance reports and the progress of various government schemes in the Education Department and other sectors, with the minister directing officials to ensure their speedy implementation.
The meeting was attended by Revenue Department Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar Kataria, Deputy Commissioner Meena Nagaraj, District Conservator of Forests Dr. Vikram Amate, and Zilla Panchayat CEO H.S. Keerthana.
About Chikkamagaluru District:
Chikkamagaluru, located in the Malnad region of Karnataka, is known for its rich biodiversity and coffee plantations. The district frequently experiences human-wildlife conflict as elephant corridors overlap with agricultural and residential areas.
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