Expert opinion needed to control breeding of select wildlife: Khandre

Madikeri: The number of wild animals is increasing every day, and to avoid damage to lives and crops, suggestions have been received to control the breeding of select wildlife in some areas, said forest minister Eshwar Khandre on Wednesday. He added that it needs to be discussed publicly by experts.Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the new hanging bridge and officers' quarters at Dubare near Kushalnagar, he said that an expert committee has been formed to control elephant-human conflict, and it has submitted a report. People on the edge of the forest should also provide their feedback, he said.He said the hanging bridge will be built at a cost of Rs 7.3 crore at the tourist site. "For the convenience of tourists and to facilitate the residents in Dubare, a quality bridge is being built. Through this, a long-standing demand is being fulfilled," he opined.There is no shortage of funds for the construction of railway barricades and elephant trenches. He said he also appealed to the CM to provide more funds, so that more barricades can be installed as soon as possible. The forest department is also using modern technology to monitor the movement of elephants. Forest dwellers and forest fringe people have protected the forest for a long time. But today, precious lives are being lost due to human-wildlife conflict, and the officers and staff should give first priority to save people's lives, he stated.MLA Manthar Gowda, principal chief conservator of forests and chief of forest force Meenakshi Negi, PCCF (wildlife) Kumar Pushkar, Mahant Shivalinga Swami of Manehalli Mutt, and Rudramuni Swami of Kallahalli Mutt were present.BJP activists taken into custodyBJP activists led by the Somwarpet Mandal president Gautham were taken into preventive custody by the cops as they planned to wave black flags, seeking action to curb human-animal conflict at Guddehosuru. Kushalnagar police arrested 24 BJP workers and took them to Madikeri and later released them. However, district BJP president Ravi Kalappa and mandal president Gautham said that they were waiting to explain to the minister regarding the wildlife-human conflict in Kodagu and to urge for a permanent solution, but police forcibly arrested them.