Provide food, water for elephants inside forest: Villagers (Chikkamagaluru) Ranjith Kandya, Times of India February 12, 2025 With human-elephant conflict growing in the district, villagers and people's representatives urged the forest department to focus on providing food and water for elephants inside the forest and suggested clearing forest encroachments. Sringeri MLA TD Rajegowda said the officials must take measures to grow bamboo and grass, which would be consumed by the elephants and other animals. "Teak plantations should be replaced with bamboo, fruits, and grass. If we fail to take up this initiative, there will be a major disaster for the farmers. Now, the elephants are consuming areca plants. The govt has to take the matter seriously and should take measures," said the MLA. For the past 75 days, four people died in elephant attacks. While three died in elephant attacks, one died in a bison attack in the Sringeri assembly segment alone. Although the problem is rampant, the authorities are yet to take up full-fledged measures like solar or electric fencing, railway barricades, and elephant trenches, among others, to control wild animals entering human habitats. According to Ramesh of Kundur, where elephant movement has existed for several years now, the increase in the population of elephants, encroachment of forest land, and lack of fodder inside the forest has resulted in human elephant conflict. However, the officials claim that focusing on providing food and water inside the forest is a good idea, and it takes significant effort. The region should be free from human and cattle intervention. With the support of locals, it would be possible, said an officer. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/provide-food-water-for-elephants-inside-forest-villagers/articleshow/118156134.cms