Bengaluru: As human-elephant conflicts escalate across Karnataka, coffee planters from Sakleshpur have demanded the relocation of jumbos to designated confinement camps. The incident has raised eyebrows among conservationists who have cautioned that such measures could backfire.
According to the 2023 census report, Karnataka hosts the highest number of elephants in India, with 180 captive and 6,215 wild elephants.
Recently, in the Karnataka Legislative Council, MLC Ravikumar described a worsening situation in Ramanagara and Bengaluru South. He said that in the past three years, elephants had killed 15 people and injured 25, most between 3 am and 6 am. Farmers cultivating ragi, groundnuts and silk, he said, were living in fear, and some had stopped farming altogether.
He argued that once elephants start raiding crops, they do not return to the forests. Ravikumar’s proposed solution included more railway barricades and a new elephant camp at Muthathi in the Cauvery Sanctuary area.
Ravikumar told ThePrint that his comments were meant to highlight the seriousness of the situation, not to undermine conservation goals. “Yes, the conflict is very high. I’m urging the government to commission more scientific studies. More barricades and timely compensation are the need of the hour. We should not allow any deaths on either side. We need to protect our forests and wildlife, and also protect our farmers who live in fear of wild animals,” he said.
Ravikumar added that if there are other scientific methods, then those can be considered.
The state has 14 elephant camps (13 existing and one proposed)—Dubare and Harangi in Kodagu, Sakrebailu in Shivamogga, Phansoli in Kali, Ramapura in Bandipur, Balle, Mathigodu, Doddaharve, Bheemanakatte, Boodipadaga in BRT, and Bannerghatta near Bengaluru. Four of these camps are packed into Nagarahole. The state government, in its 2025 Budget, has already made a provision for a soft-release centre at Bhadra Tiger Reserve and has reserved 20 crores for the same.
Demand for solar fencing
In the Western Ghats, Sakleshpur remains one of the state’s worst-hit areas, with herds frequently entering coffee and areca plantations. Sanganna, a planter, said, “We have now lost around 88 people so far. The conflict has become more severe in the past 20 years. We have submitted 17 recommendations to the government. The main point is to remove all the elephants and translocate them completely to camps so that they don’t come out at all. We have also asked for a 90% subsidy for solar fencing.”
Another planter and former General Secretary of the Coffee Growers Association, Krishnanna, said that he had lost five acres out of 60 and had not received any compensation. “I’m not expecting a single rupee from the government, but I urge for a permanent solution,” he added.
The Karnataka High Court, in 2023, directed periodic coordination meetings every two months at the field level and four-monthly reviews by senior officials. “But we have received no communication of any meetings so far,” said Krishnanna.
Meanwhile, Sakleshpur MLA Manjunath said that compensation has been inadequate, but corridor protection offers the long-term answer. “The farmers are ready to give land to the forest department to strengthen the elephant corridors. I urge the government to buy those lands and secure the corridors — this is the only win-win solution available,” he said.
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Overcrowded camps
The elephant camps in the state face infrastructure gaps and staff shortages. A high court-appointed Elephant Task Force Committee, chaired by Prof. Raman Sukumar (IISc), found that many camps required upgrades and improved veterinary care.
The 2012 Karnataka Elephant Task Force (KETF) report, though foundational, contained contradictions: it warned against fragmentation yet recommended “removal zones” and physical interventions such as artificial waterholes, fodder supply, and check dams. Conservationists say that these measures, when applied indiscriminately, have fragmented habitats further.
Conservationist Akhilesh Chippalli said that Karnataka should repurpose existing camps rather than open new ones. “We have urged the government to shift the defunct Sakrebailu camp to the high-conflict zones of Sakleshpur. We don’t need more new camps. We just need to maintain and utilise the camps so they can provide a timely response to drive away elephants as well as other wild animals and for combing operations,” he said.
Ecological concerns
A wildlife expert, who has served on several state and national committees, said that camps located inside forests often harm ecosystems. “A captive elephant, when left to roam inside forests, clears vegetation and spreads diseases that affect wild herds. Elephant camps inside forests create havoc and lead to a total disaster. Camps should be moved outside forests, and the focus should be on strategy,” he said.
He added that large-scale deforestation for unplanned development is the root cause of conflict and pointed to the growing trade and misuse of kumki elephants — trained animals meant for conflict management that are increasingly used in parades, private events and inter-state transfers.
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Expensive illusions on the ground
For years, crores have been spent on “habitat-improvement” works — check dams, fodder plots and rainwater pits — in forests that already store water naturally. Plantation drives and mechanical works often disturb wildlife more than they help.
The Forest Rights Act (FRA), which was intended for justice to forest dwellers, has also led to new encroachments in elephant corridors where rights were granted without ecological safeguards. Meanwhile, the proposed Mekedatu project across the Cauvery is expected to submerge riparian forests and sever movement routes, funnelling elephants into narrow conflict-prone belts.
Meanwhile, the forest officers and conservation scientists agree on core measures—deploy more staff during conflict hours, maintain barriers, and release compensation promptly. They also stress community involvement. Several officers flagged the shortages of vehicles, trained guards and lack of funds. “Most incidents happen at night, and our teams lack manpower,” a senior officer said.
With the highest elephant population, Karnataka faces one of India’s toughest conservation challenges. Planters seek quick fixes and safety, legislators are demanding infrastructure and barricades, and conservationists call for a strategy rooted in ecology and community participation. All agree that without coordination, compensation and corridor protection, the state risks repeating its mistakes — and deepening the conflict it seeks to solve.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)