A recent study on elephant mortality and injury in Karnataka has uncovered alarming statistics linking human-made barriers to rising casualties among the state’s wild elephant population. Conducted jointly by the state Forest Department and independent wildlife researchers, the report identifies open trenches and solar-powered electric fences as major contributors to elephant injuries and deaths. Over the past decade, these mitigation measures—originally designed to prevent crop raids—have inadvertently become lethal obstacles, undermining conservation efforts in key elephant habitats across southern Karnataka.
The study reveals that nearly 40% of elephant injuries reported in the past five years were caused by trench-related accidents, particularly in districts like Hassan, Chamarajanagar, and Kodagu. Researchers found that elephants, in their attempts to cross into agricultural lands, often fall into these deep, narrow pits and sustain severe fractures, internal injuries, or spinal damage. Such incidents frequently result in prolonged suffering, as trapped elephants struggle for days before being rescued—or, in many cases, succumbing to exhaustion and infection.
Equally concerning is the finding that solar-powered fences account for nearly a quarter of elephant deaths in the state. Although designed to deliver mild shocks as deterrents, improper installation and illegal electrification using high-voltage lines have turned many fences deadly. Villagers and estate owners, desperate to protect crops, often tap directly into power lines, causing instant fatalities when elephants come into contact with them. The report calls this “a silent but escalating crisis” in the human-elephant conflict landscape.
Wildlife officials say the findings underscore the urgent need for a reassessment of traditional conflict mitigation techniques. While barriers have provided short-term relief to farmers, they have also fragmented elephant corridors and disrupted migration routes. “These measures are not only ineffective but counterproductive,” said a senior official from the Forest Department. “Elephants are intelligent and persistent. When blocked, they seek alternate paths, often entering new villages, thereby widening the conflict zone.”
The study emphasizes that the issue is most acute along the forest fringes of Bandipur, Nagarahole, and Biligirirangana Hills, regions that host dense elephant populations. These landscapes have seen expanding agriculture, coffee plantations, and infrastructure projects, forcing elephants to navigate increasingly hazardous terrain. Experts warn that without an integrated landscape-level approach, the balance between human habitation and wildlife will continue to deteriorate, leading to more deaths on both sides.
Conservation biologist Dr. Meera Narayan, who co-authored the study, explained that most trenches are “improperly engineered” and fail to account for animal movement patterns. “Trenches often have steep, unreinforced sides that crumble when elephants attempt to cross. The animals slip, fall, and are unable to climb out,” she said. “In several documented cases, rescue operations took days because of the remoteness and scale of the pits.” Dr. Narayan urged authorities to replace trenches with more adaptive, humane solutions such as bio-fencing and buffer crop systems.
Elephant activists argue that the government’s focus has long been on controlling elephants rather than addressing underlying causes of conflict. Rapid deforestation, linear projects like highways and power lines, and shrinking forest cover have all contributed to forcing elephants into human-dominated landscapes. “Barriers like trenches and solar fences are symptoms of a deeper problem—habitat loss,” said conservationist Prakash Bhat. “Unless we restore connectivity between forest patches, these deaths will continue.”
Experts urge shift toward coexistence strategies: Trenches
Wildlife researchers and conservation NGOs have reiterated that coexistence, rather than exclusion, must be the core principle of elephant management. They advocate for restoring forest corridors, ensuring safe passage between reserves, and introducing eco-compensation schemes for affected communities. Experts emphasize that empowering locals through conservation-linked livelihoods—such as eco-tourism, sustainable farming, and community monitoring—can reduce hostility toward elephants while strengthening long-term conservation goals across Karnataka’s elephant landscapes.
Local conservationists have also highlighted the importance of community education and awareness. Many rural populations still perceive elephants as adversaries, leading to fear and retaliation. Workshops, school programs, and village meetings could transform perceptions by teaching coexistence practices and showcasing success stories from other regions. “Once people understand that elephants aren’t intruders but victims of habitat loss, empathy replaces anger,” said Dr. R. Suresh, a senior ecologist involved in the study.
Technology and policy reforms on the horizon
The Forest Department is reportedly exploring the use of AI-powered monitoring systems, drones, and motion sensors to track elephant movement and predict conflict-prone zones. These technologies, when integrated with field-level intelligence, can help authorities intervene before elephants enter farmland. Karnataka’s ongoing Smart Forests Initiative may include such predictive tools in its next phase, combining technology with ecological insights to create an adaptive management system.
Policy reforms are also expected following the study’s release. State legislators from wildlife-affected districts have demanded stricter regulation of electric fencing and penalties for illegal high-voltage connections. Additionally, proposals for introducing a dedicated Elephant Conflict Mitigation Fund have gained momentum. This fund would finance compensation, barrier modification, and habitat restoration, ensuring a consistent source of resources for long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes.
Several wildlife experts have called for a statewide corridor restoration mission, akin to the river rejuvenation models adopted elsewhere. Such a program could connect fragmented habitats across Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, and Kodagu, ensuring uninterrupted elephant movement. The mission would also generate local employment and contribute to carbon sequestration efforts—linking conservation to climate action.
Ultimately, the study has reignited Karnataka’s decades-long debate on how best to balance human needs with elephant survival. Conservationists believe that the tragedy of injured and electrocuted elephants can only end when empathy, science, and governance work together. “We must learn to live with elephants, not fence them out,” said Dr. Narayan, summarizing the study’s message. “If we repair landscapes, protect corridors, and share space wisely, both humans and elephants can thrive in this ancient coexistence once more.”
Forest officials defending current mitigation methods argue that they are working within practical limitations. Many local administrations rely on trenches and fences because they are low-cost and quick to implement, unlike corridor restoration projects that require significant land and funding. However, the study warns that these short-term measures are exacting a long-term ecological cost, further eroding public sympathy for elephants as crop damage rises despite barriers.
The report calls for standardized construction guidelines and independent audits of all physical barriers erected along forest boundaries. It recommends that the Forest Department collaborate with the Karnataka Electricity Board to ensure solar fencing complies with safety norms. Researchers have also proposed real-time monitoring through GPS-tagged elephant herds and drone surveillance to track movement patterns and prevent fatal encounters.
Interestingly, the study notes that elephants are adapting behaviorally to these man-made challenges. Some herds have learned to locate weak points in fences or cross trenches at night when visibility is low. In one case in Kodagu, an elephant was recorded using its tusks to test electric wires before crossing safely. These evolving strategies highlight elephants’ intelligence—but also their desperation to access food sources in shrinking habitats.
Communities living along the forest edges remain caught in the middle. Farmers in Chamarajanagar and Hassan say elephants destroy entire crop cycles, leaving them financially devastated. “If we remove trenches, who will protect our farms?” asked local farmer Gopal. “The government talks about conservation, but our losses are ignored.” The study urges policymakers to bridge this gap by introducing compensation schemes that are prompt, transparent, and sufficient to discourage dangerous retaliatory practices.
Experts also advocate for creating multi-stakeholder conflict management committees in each district, involving forest officials, scientists, NGOs, and local communities. Such committees could evaluate site-specific strategies, replacing blanket fencing or trenching policies with tailored, ecological approaches. These might include solar-powered warning sirens, elephant corridors lined with deterrent crops like chili and tobacco, and eco-tourism incentives that turn elephant presence into a community asset.
Environmental NGOs have welcomed the study’s recommendations but cautioned that implementation remains a challenge. They point to several pilot projects—such as bee-hive fencing in Africa—that could be adapted to Karnataka’s landscape. These methods discourage elephants while preserving animal welfare and farmer safety. However, successful implementation requires sustained funding, political will, and public cooperation—elements that have often been inconsistent in Karnataka’s conservation history.
The Karnataka Forest Department has responded to the report by announcing plans to review existing mitigation infrastructure. A senior officer confirmed that outdated trenches will be filled or redesigned, and illegal electrified fences will be dismantled in a phased manner. “We are committed to balancing human safety and wildlife welfare,” he said. “Future conflict prevention will prioritize coexistence, not containment.”
The Forest Department has announced plans to organize district-level stakeholder workshops in the coming months to implement the study’s recommendations effectively. These workshops will bring together villagers, farmers’ associations, local authorities, and wildlife experts to design site-specific mitigation strategies. By combining traditional knowledge with scientific insights, the initiative aims to reduce elephant injuries and fatalities while minimizing crop damage. Officials hope that such collaborative planning will create a model for humane conflict management that other elephant-range states can replicate, ensuring Karnataka’s elephants and human communities can coexist safely and sustainably.
As Karnataka marks Wildlife Week, the study serves as a sobering reminder of how human interventions can unintentionally endanger the very species they aim to protect. The trenches and fences meant to separate man and elephant have instead become symbols of mistrust and mismanagement. Experts say the way forward lies not in building higher barriers, but in restoring the ancient pathways that once allowed both species to share the land in harmony.
Follow: Karnataka Government
Also read: Home | Channel 6 Network – Latest News, Breaking Updates: Politics, Business, Tech & More
