Kumkis Deployed to Manage Wild Elephant Activity in Kodagu Villages

Speedy Summary

• Location: Chittoor west division forest authorities initiated a drive to address crop-raiding by wild elephants in villages near the Koundinya wildlife sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh.
• Action taken: Six trained elephants (kumkis) were deployed, including Deva, Rajan, Abhimanyu, Krishna (from Karnataka), and Vinayak and Jayanth (local elephants).
• Support Team: The operation involves 12 mahouts, 40 personnel including forest watchers and elephant trackers.
• Trial Run: A test drive conducted on August 1 successfully intercepted a herd of eight wild elephants at Tekumanda village vulnerable to wildlife movement. The herd was guided back to their natural habitat in Tamil Nadu.
• Background Efforts: Four trained kumki elephants from Karnataka underwent training with local teams in May before current operations began.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The deployment of kumki elephants highlights a proactive approach by the forest authorities in Chittoor district to address human-wildlife conflict effectively. Such measures are critical as crop raiding incidents not only impact agricultural yield but also exacerbate tensions between communities living near protected areas and conservation efforts aimed at wildlife protection.

this initiative underscores the need for regional cooperation-such as the bringing in of expertise from Karnataka-and serves as an exmaple of sustainable conflict mitigation without harm to wildlife populations. However, consistent monitoring will be essential to ensure long-term success and avoid unintended consequences like driving herds deeper into human habitations elsewhere.

For read more: the Hindu