Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Nov 24: With incidents of human-elephant conflict steadily rising in various parts of Dakshina Kannada, the government is set to finalise the formation of a dedicated Elephant Task Force (ETF) for the district.

The Forest Department had earlier submitted proposals for two initiatives — an Elephant Task Force and an elephant camp. However, the elephant camp proposal requires a significantly higher investment and has also faced opposition from locals in the proposed Gundya region. Considering these hurdles, authorities are now prioritising the establishment of the ETF, with Sullia and Gundya identified as the central operational zones.

Department sources said the proposal has already secured Cabinet approval and is currently under examination by the Finance Department. There is a strong possibility that the final approval will be granted before the upcoming Legislative Assembly session, paving the way for the early launch of the Elephant Task Force in the district.