Expert panel studying behaviour of elephants (Karnataka) The Hindu March 17, 2025 As human-elephant conflict cases in Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, and Kodagu have seen an increase in recent years, the State government is expecting a report from an expert committee on whether there are any behavioural changes among pachyderms over the years. “An expert committee headed by honorary professor at the Centre for Ecological Sciences in the Indian Institute of Science, Raman Sukumar, is studying the behavioural changes among elephants,” Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre told the Legislative Council responding to a question from Janata Dal (Secular) member Suraj Revanna. The Minister pointed out that at least 60 to 70 elephants had come out of forests in Hassan district alone, post the pandemic. “Elephants have started staying in coffee plantations since there is not much difference between the coffee plantations and forests. It is more so in Hassan, Kodagu, and Chikkamagaluru districts,” he said, adding that drought, lack of food and water in the forest, and rapid urbanisation had also contributed to elephants moving out of forests. On the member’s request to increase compensation amount, Mr. Khandre said that the department would consider the request, and that in 2023-2024 a sum of ₹31 crore had been distributed as compensation in human-animal conflicts across the State. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/expert-panel-studying-behaviour-of-elephants/article69341260.ece