Elephant electrocuted in Karnataka’s Bandipur Tiger Reserve

Quick Summary

• An elephant was electrocuted in Mangala village, Bandipur Tiger Reserve, after coming into contact with a live electric wire used to fence agricultural land.
• The electric fence is suspected to be illegal and installed by villagers to protect crops from wild animals.
• Senior Forest Department officials were notified and visited the site of the incident.
• Wildlife conservationists criticized the illegal use of powerlines and called on Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation to take legal action against offenders.
• The Bandipur Tiger Reserve area has frequent incidents of human-animal conflict due to its high density of elephants.
• Karnataka recorded 109 elephant deaths (natural and unnatural causes) in 2024; this year alone, 33 elephants have died as of July 15, according to official statistics.
• Conservationists noted that conviction rates for cases involving unnatural deaths are extremely low.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The electrocution highlights persistent challenges in managing human-wildlife conflict, particularly in regions like Bandipur where elephant populations are dense. Illegal fencing practices not only threaten wildlife but also indicate gaps in regulation enforcement by authorities concerned with agriculture or electricity distribution systems. With elephant mortality figures rising steadily (33 this year alone), proactive measures-such as community engagement programs on safe coexistence-become increasingly vital for conservation efforts.

Additionally, negligible conviction rates for unnatural wildlife deaths raise concerns about accountability and deterrence mechanisms within enforcement frameworks designed for wildlife protection laws in India.

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