Stop Illegal Electrification of Fences & Brutal Killing Of Elephants

Honorable Chief Minister,

Large number of elephants are being brutally killed by the farmers in Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts in Karnataka State which is under your governance.

It is most painful to see that the farmers are resorting to this unethical method of discouraging elephants straying into their farms, eating and destroying standing crops. Many farmers are illegally electrifying the fences around their farms. They tap elecricity illegally from their domestic lines or main supply lines, sometimes with the apparent connivance of the field personnel of the Karnataka power transmission corporation limited. In some cases the incident is reported in the press and public and animal lovers raise a protest which goes unheard more often than not.

Yes, we do read in the press that cases are booked by the police under the Wildlife Protection Act and by the Electricity Department (KPTCL) under the Electricity Act. But obviously no effective action or follow-up is being done to ensure that the guilty are being appropriately punished. In some instances, the carcases are even being disposed off clandestinely (destruction of evidence is also a punishable offense under the Indian penal code and other laws of the land.)

FARMERS' PROBLEMS --

Farmers who own land in elephant-inhabited lands are also at the receiving end of Government apathy. The loss of their crops is not being adequately compensated by the Government. Political leaders and parties also extend their support because they want the votes of the Farmers. (Elephants have no vote in India!) So far no leader has condemned such killings or has called upon the farmers not to indulge in such brutal acts. Farmers need to be helped by compensating them. The Farmers' Association (namely Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha) is keeping silent on this cruelty against elephants and has neither condemned nor given a call not to indulge in such killings. The problem of Farmers need to be addressed to but at the same time the life of helpless elephants need to be protected.

REASON FOR THE INCURSION OF ELEPHANTS INTO HUMAN HABITATS --

The traditional Elephant corridors of nilgiri biosphere spreading over three states of Karnataka,Tamilnadu and Kerala - on their Karnataka sector on paper and in theory spread from the elephant reserves of Karapura, Nagarhole ranges right up to the outskirts of the capital city of Bangalore near Bannerghatta Wild Life Park. But in reality the corridor is no longer a protected preserve of pachyderms. It has been encroached upon by mankind (sometimes illegally also) for farming,mining and quarying (as some parts along the corridor are rich in granite stones). The food and water resources in the forests has also depleted due to unchecked deforestation. the million dollar question is where can the elephnats thus cornered and deprived of their natural habitats go and what do they eat or drink?. Driven by hunger and thirst they stray into human habitats and get killed by such electrocutions.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE--
(1) Digging and proper maintenance of EPT's (elephant proof trenches in vulnerable areas. (The Government of Karnataka pleads lack of adequate resources from its own funds as well as from the project elephant). Adequate funds should be provided and proper implementation msut be ensured.
(2) It has also come to the notice of animal rights groups that there are instances of villagers adjoining the forests filling up the trenches to enable grazing of their cattle in the forest areas. It is also true that the EPT's get filled by the mud in monsoon and need to be maintained. Constant manitenance is essential.
(3) erection of solar powered fences around the farm lands has to be encouraged in a big way by awareness campaigns on television and other media. These solar fences are effective in discouraging the elephants by giving them a mild shock but not lethal enought to hurt them. These fences have been found effetive in Humsur taluq of Mysore district.
(4) Adequate number of trained forest personnel have to be placed in such areas for constant monitoring of thei situation which should be placed under the direct control of a senior government officer to avoid muliplicity of authorities which results in delays and ineffectiveness of what ever meagre measures are being taken at present.
(5) establshment of special courts to try cases of cruelty agaisnt animals, and offences under the wildlife protection and all similar violations of animal rights by specailly trained judges for speedy disposal of cruelty .
(6) Sensitisation of authorities has to be done on a war footing by the Government. Photos of elephant calves mourning over the carcass of thier mother elephants, pregnant elephants killed ,or two or three elephnats killed, carcases of elephant calves killed by villagers by attacking them with sharp edged weapons appear in the press with alarming regularity. But so far regrettably the govenment authorities have responded with a bureautcratic approach where as their conscience should have made them initiate firm and decisive actions.
(7) Awareness and sensitization programmes and messages must be telecast on the television, broadcast on all india radio and also printed in the media.
(8) A Statement by the government repeatedly published in all these media that the government of karnataka has taken a serious view of such illegal electrification of fences and serious measures will be initiated against any person who indulges in these acts will have a tangible effect . This has to be of course followed up with political will and legal action,

All animal lovers, animal rights activists and organizations around the world who are signatories of this petition appeal to you in the name of humanity and justice. Please bestow your personal attention and initiate measures to put an end to this cruelty against elephants.

Please save the elephants before there are non left to be protected.

Kind Regards,
The Undersigned.