Man–elephant conflict spirals in Hassan district

Hassan: Man-wild elephant conflict is going from bad to worse in the district, with a man trampled to death in Belur taluk on Sunday.Raja Shetty, 65, died in an elephant attack in Kanaguppe in the taluk. Shetty was heading to his farm when the elephant attacked him early in the morning.According to the locals, this is the second death in the village in one year, and the forest department officials failed to take any measures to control the menace.The villagers said the elephant attacked Shetty just 50 metres away from his house. The elephant threw the villager to the ground with its trunk first and then trampled him to death. The elephant was moving around the dead body for a few minutes. The villagers stayed away from the dead body due to fear. However, the forest department officials rushed to the spot. The incident was reported within Arehalli police limits.Theju Kumar, a villager, criticised the forest department officials and forest minister Eshwar Khandre. He argued that foresters' irresponsibility has resulted in man-elephant conflict. The forest department and Elephant Task Force (ETF) failed to deliver their work efficiently. Despite elephants' movement, the officials remained silent and did not take steps to alert people. "We need a permanent solution for the menace," he demanded.Another villager said the elephants keep moving around in the morning and the evening. It has become difficult for children and farmers to move around, he said.A total of 88 persons were killed in elephant attacks in the district since 2000. Five people were killed in just three months in early 2025, with Belur taluk being the worst affected.Conflict arises mainly in coffee plantations and farmland, with incidents occurring during early morning or evening hours when elephants are moving from one place to another.Following the incident, the villagers staged a protest and raised slogans against the forest department and the state govt.However, an officer said the department has been making all the necessary efforts to prevent the menace, but untoward incidents were reported. "We will take up stringent measures to control the menace," the officer claimed.
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