File photo of Karnataka's Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre.
Credit: DH Photo
Bengaluru: Peeved at the growing incidents of wild animals dying due to electrocution, Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has ordered officials to submit a report on the unnatural death of wild animals in the last five years.
In a letter to the Additional Chief Secretary of the department, the minister cited media reports on the wild animals killed by illegal electric fencing and snares in plantations and farm lands adjacent to protected areas and sought day-to-day updates on the matter.
"Information on the death of wild animals — whether natural or unnatural — should be communicated immediately to the office of the minister. Further, report on the postmortem and audit should be submitted," the letter said.
The minister asked the department to provide full details on the unnatural deaths, specifically the deaths caused by the illegal electric fences and snares.
"A comprehensive report on the actions taken in the cases that took place in the last five years, the current stage of such actions and the number of people punished in the incidents should be submitted in 10 days," it said.
While the department allows solar fencing to prevent elephants straying into human habitations, farmers desperate to protect their crops have resorted to connecting their fence to overhead high voltate power lines. This has led to deaths of wild animals in Hassan, Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagalur and other districts.