Residents urge permanent measures to control human-wildlife conflict in Kodagu

Madikeri: Residents of Chennangi and surrounding areas in Virajpet taluk have urged the forest department to implement permanent and scientific measures to address the increasing human–wildlife conflict, stating that fear and crop destruction have made peaceful living impossible.At a meeting with forest department officials held at the Chennangi Cauvery Seva Sangha near Pollibetta, sangha's founding president AC Ganapathy, said farmers in Kodagu depend entirely on agriculture and are suffering repeated severe losses as wild animals destroy crops cultivated with great difficulty throughout the year. He said the persistent attacks have pushed many farmers into financial distress and uncertainty.Ganapathy added that the threat posed by wild animals has also affected daily wage workers, who are often unable to go to work. He said the education of schoolchildren has been disrupted as fear prevents them from travelling to school safely. Accusing the govt and the forest department of failing for years to offer a scientific and lasting solution, he demanded immediate action, warning that the patience of Kodagu residents was being tested.During the meeting, villagers submitted a petition to forest department officials outlining several demands. These included repairing the elephant trench constructed to prevent wildlife intrusion, appointing staff to monitor the railway barricade gate on the Chennangi–Basavanahalli road, constructing staff quarters at the site, strengthening the existing gate and deploying guards. The residents also sought the creation of a WhatsApp group to quickly share information on wildlife movement, a ban on dumping waste in forest areas, action against the parking of vehicles within forest limits, and the early completion of railway barricade installation works.Forest department officials assured residents that their grievances would be considered and addressed positively. They also briefed the gathering on ongoing projects and action plans aimed at preventing wildlife intrusion, and sought public cooperation in prevention, capture and relocation efforts.Among those present were assistant conservator of forests, Hunsur division, Laxmikant; range forest officer Devaraju; Cauvery Seva Sangha president Thekkade Srinivas; and former gram panchayat president Arun Kumar.