Amaravati, July 24: Andhra Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan announced on Friday that two Kumki elephants will assist in reducing human-elephant conflicts in the Parvathipuram-Manam district.
The trained Kumki elephants, Jayant and Abhimanyu, were welcomed at Pawan Kalyan’s official residence in Mangalagiri after being transported from Palamaner in Chittoor district.
The Forest and Environment Minister showered the elephants with flowers and fed them. Subsequently, the elephants were dispatched to the Guchimi camp in Parvathipuram-Manam district as part of efforts to minimize conflicts with humans near the Odisha border.
The Forest Department is relocating the trained Kumki elephants from the Musalamadugu elephant training center near Palamaner to the Guchimi camp.
Pawan Kalyan instructed forest officials to ensure all necessary arrangements for the safety of the Kumki elephants during their journey. He also emphasized the need for steps to acclimatize the elephants to their new environment under expert supervision upon arrival.
He stated that sending Kumki elephants to another location is part of the coalition government’s plan to ensure public safety, protect farmers’ crops, and conserve wildlife through scientific and humane methods.
Wild elephant herds frequently enter the Parvathipuram-Manam district from areas bordering Odisha, causing damage to crops and property.
According to officials, Jayant and Abhimanyu have played significant roles in various crucial operations in Palamaner and Chittoor. They have also been instrumental in safely guiding wild elephant herds back to the forest.
Kumki elephants are specially trained for wildlife management tasks. They help direct wild elephants, maintain control, and conduct rescue operations when necessary, thereby reducing human-elephant conflicts.
The movement of wild elephant herds from Odisha has increased in the Vizianagaram and Parvathipuram-Manam districts. Currently, a herd of eight elephants is roaming near Karada village in the Bobbili mandal of Vizianagaram district, while another herd of four elephants has been spotted near Ghanasara village in the Parvathipuram-Manam district.
The tribal communities residing in the Parvathipuram and Seethampeta agency areas are troubled by the arrival of wild elephants, which pose a threat to human lives. Additionally, these elephants are causing significant damage to crops such as rice, bananas, cocoa, oil palm, sugarcane, and vegetables.
Since 2017, at least 13 people have lost their lives due to elephant attacks in the area, including two elephant trackers. Furthermore, elephants have damaged crops across approximately 3,600 acres.
Last May, the Andhra Pradesh government brought four Kumki elephants from Karnataka to help control wild elephants entering human settlements. Pawan Kalyan inaugurated the Kumki elephant training center in Chittoor district last November.
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