Jumbo attacks peak in July, Aug: Dept data (Bengaluru) Niranjan Kaggere, Times of India September 10, 2023 See link <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/jumbo-attacks-peak-in-july-aug-dept-data/articleshow/103543663.cms?from=mdr> for statistics graphic. Rising incidents of human-animal conflict across Karnataka have thrown up an unusual pattern, especially with wild elephant attacks in various parts of the state. Unlike the regular incidents of conflict reported uniformly throughout the year, most elephant attacks have largely been seen during July and August. Even though there have been attacks during other months, the number of casualties has been minimal, according to data released by the forest department. As per data pertaining to elephant attacks on humans in various parts of the state, August has been reporting the highest number, followed by July, for the past five years. This has prompted officials and experts to further analyse the behaviour of elephants. Of the 148 casualties due to elephant attacks since 2018, 26 have been reported in August - the highest for any month in a calendar year - followed by July (18) and May (17). Forest minister Eshwar Khandre said: "In the last five years (since 2018), 25 to 26 humans have died on an average due to elephant attacks every year, while that for overall wildlife attacks is around 50. However, when it comes to elephant attacks, they peak in August and July. This could largely be due to increased bushy vegetation which provides enough cover for elephants to move around and at the same time makes it difficult for humans to spot them from a distance. Surprisingly, most of these attacks have been reported in the wee hours of the day, when people set out towards their fields or for other work." A senior forest official said: "Fodder and water sources inside forests deplete owing to prolonged summer and during the same time, jumbos venture out towards human habitation in search of food. Hailstorms during presummer season and regular showers in monsoon ensure regeneration of vegetation, helping elephants to move around freely and making it difficult for humans to spot them. If you go around Kodagu or Hassan, there is hardly any difference between a forest area and a private estate. Both look the same with dense tree cover." To resolve the frequent incidents of jumbo attack in Sakleshpur and Alur, the government is mulling setting up an elephant camp in Hassan on the lines of Dubare in Kodagu or Sakrebailu in Shivamogga. Hinting at setting up a jumbo camp, Khandre said, "Many of the elephants are camping in estates and there have been demands to rescue and rehabilitate them in camps." Farmers Offer to Give up Land for Forest Put to severe hardships every year, hundreds of farmers in Hassan have come forward to hand over their land to the government to set up an elephant corridor so that jumbos do not stray out of the forest. "Farmers, especially those farming along the forest boundary, have proposed to give up more than 3,000 acres of agricultural land which can be added to the forest area. Their only demand is that the department must give them market value for their land. I will discuss this with the CM and based on financial grants, we will acquire these lands and extend our forest cover," said Khandre. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/jumbo-attacks-peak-in-july-aug-dept-data/articleshow/103543663.cms?from=mdr