After several failed attempts to overcome problems caused by wild elephants to agriculturists and local residents in Sindhudurg and Kolhapur, the state forest department is working on developing habitats for pachyderms in the backwaters of the Tillari dam. It is also considering a proposal for a transit camp for these pachyderms at Ghatkarwadi in Kolhapur district. Maharashtra has around nine wild elephants, who move around in the Sindhudurg and Kolhapur. These elephants raid agricultural fields and horticultural crops, leading to an outcry. Last year, a tusker even came close to Gadhinglaj town in Kolhapur district, causing panic. V.Clement Ben, chief conservator of forests (CCF- Kolhapur territorial) confirmed the proposals. He added they would plant bamboo and other fruit-breaking trees on the borders of forests and along water bodies like streams. This will ensure that the elephants do not move into human habitation. "Two villages inside the Tillari dam have been rehabilitated, freeing up around 100 hectare land. This land was earlier used for cultivating paddy. This can now be used to grow good quality grass and bamboo. This plantation of bamboo will be carried out with proper spacing to allow the elephants to move around. We hope that the elephants will stay in the area as they get adequate food," said Samadhan Chavan, deputy conservator of forests (DCF), Kolhapur territorial. Fruit-bearing trees like jackfruit can be planted here. A tusker is already present in the Tillari dam's area. "We are considering a proposal for an elephant camp at Ghatkarwadi at Ajara," said Ben, adding that it would have 'krals' to detain the elephants. Its access to the Ghatkarwadi dam will ensure availability of adequate water and the area can be fenced off from the main road. Mahouts will be recruited from states like Karnataka and Kerala, and once trained, the elephants can be used to drive away wild animals from human habitations and fields. This will ensure a long-term solution. The department is also planning to get help from the Karnataka forest department, which has expertise in managing such conflict. Since 2002, these elephants move from Karnataka to Sindhudurg and Kolhapur for food and water, leading to crop depredations and resultant unrest among farmers. Measures like constructing Elephant Proof Trenches (EPT) and solar fencing too has failed from stopping them from crop raiding. Last year, the forest department recorded 1,127 cases of crop damages by these elephants and paid Rs 1.04 crore as compensation. The elephants damage paddy, jackfruit and banana plantations. The crop depredations caused by these animals have led to demands that they be captured or chased away. Some politicians and locals have sought that a conservation reserve to confine these elephants be created. However, this protected area will come with a price—restriction on developmental activities in the periphery. Forest officials said previous attempts in the past, including a 2004 'Elephant back to home' to drive them back to Karnataka, from where they hail, trenching and solar fencing, have failed. In February 2015, Maharashtra forest officials, with help from their Karnataka counterparts, had captured three elephants in Sindhudurg. The elephants were kept in a wooden kraal (enclosure) in Mangaon but two--Ganesh and Samarth--died of shock in April that year and Bhim was sent to an elephant camp near Mysuru for taming and now, his training is complete. Bhim is likely to be inducted soon for patrolling in the Tadoba Andhari tiger reserve (TATR) in Vidarbha.

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