K'taka spends Rs 22 lakh to radio-collar each wild jumbo (Belagavi)
Niranjan Kaggere, Times of India
December 8, 2023
With wild elephants' frequent and dangerous incursions into human
habitations in five districts of Karnataka, the state government has
launched a campaign to capture and
radio-collar the jumbos. And the cost - like the mission itself - is
elephantine.
For instance, the state spends at least Rs 22 lakh on capturing and
radio-collaring each wild elephant. Of this, Rs 7 lakh is spent on each
radio collar imported from South Africa. These collars, widely seen as
alternative to translocation, are equipped with a radio transmitter with a
three-year battery life.
Kumar Pushkar, additional principal chief conservator of forests
(wildlife), said collaring allows continuous tracking through GPS,
providing real-time data to manage elephant movement and mitigate conflicts.
The conflict between humans and elephants is reported in the districts of
Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, and Kodagu, as well as some areas of Ramanagara and
Bengaluru.
A senior forest official explained the complexity of elephant-rescue
operations. It involves a diverse team of 70-80 individuals performing
tasks such as surveillance, tracking, and darting wild animals from the
back of trained elephants. The challenging terrain of dense jungles further
escalates the risks and costs involved.
Forest minister Eshwar B Khandre said, "Elephant-rescue operations are
always a tough mission, and one cannot anticipate what is likely to unfold.
Yet, we prepare for everything with the objective of safeguarding both
wildlife and humans."
The staggering cost of Rs 22 lakh to capture one elephant is justified by
forest officials. The operation requires at least six domesticated male and
female elephants transported to the site in a truck, incurring significant
truck rental costs. Crane services are employed to secure the rescued
tusker, further adding to the expenses. Operations lasting 2-3 days
necessitate provisions for food and accommodation for the large team
involved. Thermal cameras and other tracking gadgets contribute to the
overall expenditure.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/ktaka-spends-rs-22-lakh-to-radio-collar-each-wild-jumbo/articleshow/105830251.cms
K'taka spends Rs 22 lakh to radio-collar each wild jumbo (Belagavi)
Niranjan Kaggere, Times of India
December 8, 2023
With wild elephants' frequent and dangerous incursions into human
habitations in five districts of Karnataka, the state government has
launched a campaign to capture and
radio-collar the jumbos. And the cost - like the mission itself - is
elephantine.
For instance, the state spends at least Rs 22 lakh on capturing and
radio-collaring each wild elephant. Of this, Rs 7 lakh is spent on each
radio collar imported from South Africa. These collars, widely seen as
alternative to translocation, are equipped with a radio transmitter with a
three-year battery life.
Kumar Pushkar, additional principal chief conservator of forests
(wildlife), said collaring allows continuous tracking through GPS,
providing real-time data to manage elephant movement and mitigate conflicts.
The conflict between humans and elephants is reported in the districts of
Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, and Kodagu, as well as some areas of Ramanagara and
Bengaluru.
A senior forest official explained the complexity of elephant-rescue
operations. It involves a diverse team of 70-80 individuals performing
tasks such as surveillance, tracking, and darting wild animals from the
back of trained elephants. The challenging terrain of dense jungles further
escalates the risks and costs involved.
Forest minister Eshwar B Khandre said, "Elephant-rescue operations are
always a tough mission, and one cannot anticipate what is likely to unfold.
Yet, we prepare for everything with the objective of safeguarding both
wildlife and humans."
The staggering cost of Rs 22 lakh to capture one elephant is justified by
forest officials. The operation requires at least six domesticated male and
female elephants transported to the site in a truck, incurring significant
truck rental costs. Crane services are employed to secure the rescued
tusker, further adding to the expenses. Operations lasting 2-3 days
necessitate provisions for food and accommodation for the large team
involved. Thermal cameras and other tracking gadgets contribute to the
overall expenditure.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/ktaka-spends-rs-22-lakh-to-radio-collar-each-wild-jumbo/articleshow/105830251.cms
