Wild Elephants Claim 97 Lives in Karnataka Over Three Years: Minister Khandre

Speedy Summary

• Habitat and Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre informed the Karnataka Legislative Assembly that wild elephants have killed 97 people in the state over the last three years.
• Compensation totaling ₹13.65 crore has been paid to victims’ families.
• Deaths due to elephant attacks were broken down by year: 48 in 2023-24, 36 in 2024-25, and 13 till July-end of this year.
• Efforts to reduce man-animal conflict include erecting 428 km of railway barricades and forming eight elephant task forces, with plans for a new one proposed for Mangaluru pending approval.
• The Minister attributed increased conflicts to a rise in wild elephant populations combined with reduced forest areas.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The data presented highlights an urgent need to address man-animal conflicts as they result not only in human fatalities but also pose risks to wildlife conservation efforts. The ₹13.65 crore compensation suggests the economic burden such issues place on administration resources, underscoring the challenge of balancing human habitation needs with ecological preservation. Initiatives like railway barricades and specialized task forces show proactivity from the government; though, their effectiveness may rely heavily on swift implementation alongside long-term strategies like reforestation or habitat expansion programs suited to supporting growing wildlife populations sustainably without encroaching into human territories.

Read more: The Hindu Article