Elephant Capture Highlights Failing Forest Trenches

A significant human-wildlife conflict is escalating around the Channagiri Range in Karnataka's Bhadravathi Forest Division. Environmentalists point to reduced forest resources, a lack of permanent water sources, and inadequately constructed elephant-proof trenches (EPTs) as key factors exacerbating the problem. The recent capture of a 35-year-old lone tusker, believed to have strayed from Bandipur Tiger Reserve, highlights these issues.

The Ubrani forest, spanning nearly 45,000 hectares, is a critical habitat for numerous species, including deer, bears, and leopards. However, its ecosystem is rapidly degrading due to rising human pressure, including unchecked tourism and timber smuggling. Large-scale encroachments under the Bagar Hukum scheme have further compounded these problems.

The failure of the EPT project is a major concern, with trenches abandoned midway and often too shallow to deter elephants. Activists argue that this negligence, rather than animal behavior, is the primary driver of conflict. A proposal from 2021-22 to declare the Ubrani Reserve Forest and surrounding areas a separate wildlife sanctuary is currently pending approval from the State Wildlife Board.

Further complicating the situation are the terrain's hard rock formations, which made trench construction difficult, and the scarcity of water, with Hurulikere being the only lake in the vast forest. The Bhadra Right Bank Canal also acts as an artificial barrier to wildlife movement. The changing behavior of sloth bears, seen near temples searching for food, also increases risks for pilgrims and villagers.