Forest minister B Ramanath Rai was rushing to Anekal Taluk on Tuesday to closely monitor the safe retreat of the herd of wild animals that have come closer to the outskirts of Bangalore. Sharing his plans for creating a safe corridor for the elephants with dna, Rai said, “We cannot allow anymore people to get killed by elephants. What happened in Kolar and Anekal in the last two days was the worst ever human-elephant confrontation. I have been in touch with the experts and they tell us that their habitats are disappearing faster than ever.”

“As I was briefed by experts, there is a need for two corridors spaced in two regions — Chamarajanagar, Mysore, Ramanagar and the other in Hassan, Kodagu and Chikmagalur. These corridors will have to be created among the traditional migration routes of the animals in these two regions — they will not budge from their traditional path and I have already told the forest officials and experts to create a route map.

In the case of the migration path between Brahmagiri and Pushpagiri there aren’t that many problems, but those in Chamarajanagar, Mysore, Sakleshpur and Ramanagar will be problematic as the traditional migration routes have grown into human habitations and commercial estates,” Rai added.

So, would there be a translocation? dna asks the minister. “Not at the moment. Translocation is a huge operation and needs legal clearance,” Rai answered. “Our endeavour will be to restore the traditional elephant migration path without disturbing human activity, but ensuring that human-elephant conflict becomes a thing of past,” he concluded.

Man versus ElephantJan 27, 2007Nanjangud, MysoreA herd of seven wild elephants strayed from forests and entered Kadakola village on the outskirts of the city on Friday. Locals were terrified as the panic-stricken elephants stayed put in the sugarcane fields and refused to budge despite efforts by the Forest Department.

Nov 17, 2008Hunasehalla, HD Kote, MysoreA forest watcher is trampled to death by a herd of elephants as he tried to chase them, following phone calls from villagers about elephants straying into the fields.

Jan 8, 2012Anekal, BangaloreWild elephants go on a rampage in this taluk located on the borders of the Bannerghatta National Park. Only one person injured — a photographer who ventured too close to the rampaging herd.

June 8, 2011Mysore City, MysoreTwo wild elephants go on a rampage in Mysore city damaging a lot of property and trampling over one man, causing his death.

Jan 8, 2013Kamasamudram, Kolar32 elephants cross over from forests in TN and Kuppam, AP damaging acres of crops and leaving one man with terrible fractures.