As many as 600 elephants have died in the state in the last five years, according to the records of the Forest Department. Among these, 90 pachyderms died of electrocution.
A few months ago, a tamed elephant at Balle Camp was electrocuted when it accidentally came in contact with a live hanging wire. Another elephant met with a similar fate in BRT Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar district.
These two incidents are among the 90 cases which have been reported in the Mysore Elephant Reserve comprising Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Hassan and Kodagu districts.
Of late, such cases are reported from Ramanagaram district and Yellapur and Halyal taluks of Uttara Kannada district.
One of the main reasons for the electrocution of pachyderms is illegal drawing of electricity to the fences for protecting crops from wild elephants.
Besides, the sagging electricity line inside national parks and sanctuaries are also resulting in the death of wild elephants, the forest officials said.
Electrocution has claimed lives of nine elephants in 2007-08, 19 in 2008-09, 22 in 2009-10, 13 in 2010-11, 15 in 2011-12 and seven lives of elephants till July 31, 2012, they added.
Taking a serious note of these figures, senior officials of the forest department held a discussion with the officials of electricity supply companies (ESCOMs) and requested them for regular monitoring of the power line.
An 11 KV high tension (HT) line passes through Udbur and Bavali in Mysore district which has a large concentration of elephants. Upon request, the HT line has been being shifted. This line passes through in Nagarahole, Bandipur and BRT sanctuaries.
A few years ago, three elephants died in Hassan and Kodagu districts when they came into contact with an electric line. Another perennial problem is illegal drawing of electricity from the main line and connecting it to the fences.
The elephants die on the spot if they try to gatecrash into the fields. This is rampant in four districts which come under the Mysore Elephant Reserve.
Chief Conservator of Forests of Project Elephant Ajay Mishra told Express that National Board of Wildlife (NBW) has released draft guidelines and accordingly, the electric wire should be above 20 feet above the ground.
Apart from this, it has recommended putting the spike guard on every electric pole put up in forests so that the elephants do not go near it and there should be sagging of wire drawn between two poles.
The Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) systematically follows while drawing the HT line. But the ESCOMs are little lax in regard to drawing LT line.
“If the LT wire is sagging, there is every chance of electrocution of pachyderms,” he stated.
Mishra said after the High Court took a serious note of unnatural deaths of elephants, the departments concerned have become alert.
Now, the police are booking cases against farmers who are drawing electricity illegally by adding sections under the IPC and CrPC. This has increased in the rate of conviction.
“Our intention is not to punish farmers but to create awareness that they do not resort to illegal means to scare elephants,” he noted.