BANGALORE: A high-level meeting convened by Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss ways and means to contain the menace of wild elephants in Hassan district, has decided to constitute a task force.The task force, comprising officials and experts, will study man and female composition in two elephant-prone areas like Alur and Kattepura, and submit a detailed report to the ministry which in turn will submit it to the Karnataka High Court.A herd of 25 elephants has made life miserable of the people in Alur and Kattepura. The herd has been regularly visiting these places and causing damage to crops. From Karnataka, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) B K Singh, attended the meeting. The task force is free to visit the areas, consult local villagers and to undertake a scientific study of male and female population, its behavioural pattern and exodus and influx of elephants in that region. “At present no one is aware of the proportion in Alur and its surrounding areas. Only a scientific study will throw more light on the jumbos in the area. The task force is to file a detailed report once in three months,” Singh told Express from Delhi.He said the problem of elephant menace exists not only in Karnataka but also in West Bengal, Assam and Uttaranchal. Experts at the meeting were opposed to the idea of translocation of wild tuskers from Alur to Cauvery Sanctuary as they may face psychological differences and changes in food habits. If those elephants are moved to a new location the people of those areas may face a situation akin to Alur and Kattepura of Hassan district. The Karnataka Forest Department is open to any suggestion from the task force and also from the HC in dealing with those 25 elephants, added PCCF.Singh said the meeting favoured dialogue with the local populace before taking any decision. The department’s decision on translocation of elephants has been put on hold thanks to HCs intervention.
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