With more than 200 tamed elephants in Karnataka forest camps the State is making a desperate pitch to other States to adopt them. With Karnataka facing increasing man-animal conflict, it is looking for States with sparse jumbo populations and is ready to gift the captive beasts to them.
There are roughly 200 jumbos housed in the State's four elephant camps, captured by the forest department after reports of rogue behaviour, raiding crops and killing people.
The State is hoping to get rid of at least half the jumbos as the jumbos are facing food and water shortage.
The State forest department has already decided to send a dozen elephants to Uttarakhand’s Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve to protect tigers. The Zoo Authority of India and Forests and Environment Ministry have already given clearance.
According to State Forest Minister Ramanath Rai the State was looking for North Indian States to adopt the pachyderms.
According to Rai, the health of the elephants was crucial since they have to travel a distance of 2,500 km. local mahouts will also accompany the elephants till they reach their new home. Rai said the Governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have also shown interest in adopting captive elephants, but are yet to initiate a dialogue.
TM Vijaya Bhaskar, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Forests, Environment and Ecology has made an appeal to all PCCF’s at a conference held in Delhi to adopt elephants from Karnataka. He also said many States have shown interest in adopting them.