Amaravati, August 16: Andhra Pradesh’s Forest and Environment Minister Pawan Kalyan has directed officials to use drones to monitor the activities of elephant herds roaming near the Erravaripalem area in Chandragiri, Tirupati district.
During a teleconference with forest department officials, Kalyan addressed reports indicating that elephants from the Seshachalam forest area are moving in two herds and damaging crops in fields at night. He instructed the forest, revenue, and police departments to collaborate to minimize damage to life and property.
Kalyan suggested implementing special night patrols in villages adjacent to the forest. He emphasized the need to raise awareness among residents in sensitive areas to prevent them from entering fields at night and to enforce necessary safety measures.
To prevent damage caused by elephants, proactive steps have been mandated. Warnings should be issued through loudspeakers, mobile messages, and local information systems in villages.
He stated that officials must continuously monitor the situation and deploy ‘Hanuman’ teams wherever necessary to ensure public safety. Ground staff should remain vigilant around the clock.
Kalyan urged the public to stay alert and strictly follow the guidelines issued by forest department officials. He assured that compensation would be provided promptly through the forest department as soon as reports of crop damage are prepared.
On August 13, Kalyan mentioned that deploying ‘Kumki’ elephants to deter destructive wild elephants has led to a 70% reduction in human fatalities in forest-adjacent areas.
‘Kumki’ elephants are trained domesticated elephants used by the forest department to control wild elephants, drive them away from populated areas, and assist in rescue operations.
Addressing the national-level celebrations for World Elephant Day, he noted that managing human-elephant conflicts has also reduced crop losses. He revealed that four ‘Kumki’ elephants were brought in with the help of the Karnataka government and specially trained to help prevent human-wildlife conflicts. He stated that these measures are yielding positive results in the agency areas.
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