2 weeks ago
Dy CM Kalyan highlights measures to curb human-wildlife conflict
Elephants are big, strong animals, and sometimes they wander out of the forest into farms and villages.
In a place called Andhra Pradesh in India, more than 140 elephants have been causing problems.
They walk into fields, spoil the crops that farmers grow, and sometimes hurt people.
The Deputy Chief Minister, Pawan Kalyan, says the government wants people and wildlife to live together safely.
To help, special trained elephants called 'kumki' elephants were brought from the nearby state of Karnataka.
These trained elephants help handle wild elephants, and they have already helped in 15 operations.
Because of their help, deaths near the forest have gone down by 70 percent.
The government also started the Hanuman Project, which uses special vehicles and ambulances to respond quickly and rescue animals.
Kalyan says everyone in the community should help protect wildlife so farmers can grow their crops without fear.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said peaceful human-wildlife coexistence is a key priority, addressing a national seminar in Visakhapatnam on August 13.
Over 140 elephants have been entering farms, damaging crops and attacking people in Chittoor's Palamaner and Parvathipuram Manyam agency areas.
Four kumki elephants from Karnataka, aided by CM D K Shivakumar and former CM Siddaramaiah, have assisted in 15 operations, cutting human deaths in forest-border areas by 70%.
Andhra Pradesh is training its own kumki elephants, starting with Jayanth in Parvathipuram Manyam, and plans to train two every year.
The Hanuman Project, launched in March, has deployed 93 response vehicles and seven wildlife ambulances and rescued over 200 wild animals.
- Who
- Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, with help from the Karnataka government.
- What
- Announced measures to curb human-elephant conflict, including kumki elephants and the Hanuman Project.
- Where
- Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh; conflict areas include Chittoor's Palamaner and Parvathipuram Manyam districts.
- When
- August 13, during International Elephant Day celebrations.
- Why
- To reduce crop damage, injuries and deaths caused by over 140 elephants and promote peaceful coexistence.
Key facts
- Deputy Chief Minister
- Pawan Kalyan, holding Forest and Environment portfolios
- Elephants causing conflict
- Over 140 elephants in agency areas
- Kumki elephants from Karnataka
- 4, assisted in 15 operations
- Reduction in human deaths
- 70% in forest-border areas
- State's own kumki elephant
- Jayanth, in Parvathipuram Manyam; target of two trained per year
- Hanuman Project
- Launched in March; 93 response vehicles and 7 wildlife ambulances
- Rescues so far
- Over 200 wild animals rescued; 30+ relocation operations
- National elephant conservation centres
- Increased from 26 to 33 since 2014
Quotes
Pawan Kalyan
Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
“"Our intention is not to separate people and wildlife. True success lies in creating a future where people and wildlife can safely coexist in the same space."”
theprint.in
Sources
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