karnataka-at-andhra-s-rescue-for-taming-wild-elephants

For Andhra Pradesh, which has been facing the menace of wild elephants resulting in several fatal incidents and destruction of crops, help is coming from neighbouring Karnataka.

 

The Karnataka government has agreed to send eight Kumki elephants (trained captive elephants) along with mahouts to Andhra Pradesh to help in the operation to drive away wild elephants that have been wreaking havoc in the forests of Chittoor and also in north Andhra districts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram.

 

Kumki elephants are useful in taming wild elephants, keeping both animals and humans safe.

 

After a meeting with his Karnataka counterpart Eshwar B Khandre, Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister with environment and forests portfolio Pawan Kalyan told reporters at Bengaluru: “We have asked the Karnataka government to send some Kumki elephants to drive away wild elephants in the state, which are creating a big problem in some areas of Chittoor bordering Karnataka and also other parts of the state.”

 

He thanked the Karnataka government for agreeing to send eight Kumki elephants to resolve the issue.

 

Parts of Chittoor district bordering Tamil Nadu and Parvathipuram Manyam district near Odisha have witnessed several incidents of the human-elephant conflict. In May, the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department officials placed a request before their counterparts in Karnataka to give them trained Kumki elephants.

 

During the meeting, the officials also discussed the issue of rampant smuggling of red sanders from Seshachalam forests of Andhra Pradesh.

 

“Recently, the Karnataka forest department authorities confiscated red sanders worth Rs 140 crore being illegally transported from Andhra Pradesh. We have discussed the strategies of preventing this unabated smuggling of red sanders,” Pawan Kalyan, the actor-turned-politician, said.

 

He said both the state governments had decided to make use of satellite imagery technology in protection of forest wealth and prevention of smuggling of wood.

 

Effective surveillance would be made to arrest illegal transportation of sandalwood and red sanders, he said.

 

Both the ministers have also decided to curtail poaching of wild animals and smuggling of their parts.

 

“We shall take stringent measures against those indulging in smuggling and poaching of wild animals,” he said.

 

The deputy CM also added that both the state governments had decided to adopt a joint comprehensive strategy in the development of eco-tourism.