Odisha Seeks Kumki Elephants from Tamil Nadu for Mitigating Human-Elephant Conflicts

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has requested the Tamil Nadu Government for supply of four kumki elephants for mitigating human-elephant conflicts.

Satyabrata Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department, Govt. of Odisha, wrote a letter to Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, to Government, Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department, Tamil Nadu in this regard.

“In recent years we have been facing significant challenges in mitigating human-elephant conflicts. Your help in getting trained kumki elephants would greatly assist us in addressing these conflicts effectively and humanely. Kumki elephants can be deployed strategically to help us to manage and drive wild elephants thereby reducing damage to crops, human habitations and the potential loss of both human and elephant lives. These elephants can also be deployed for forest patrolling and rescue operations”, the letter reads.

Understanding that Tamil Nadu has a successful and commendable program in place, whereby kumki elephants are trained and utilized for wildlife conservation purposes, the Odisha Government request for supply of four kumki elephants for deployment in conflict prone areas of Odisha. These elephants will serve as invaluable asset to our State’s Wildlife Organization, aiding our efforts to minimize conflicts and safeguard both human and wildlife interests.

It is also requested that the mahouts taking care of those kumki elephants may also be deputed along with the elephants, for only initial handholding support to the local mahouts to get them acquainted with those kumki elephants, the letter further stated.