HD Devegowda flags human-elephant conflict as toddler killed and mother injured in Jharkhand

Former Prime Minister and JD(S) leader HD Devegowda on Monday drew attention to the growing human-elephant conflict in India, particularly in Karnataka, during a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the functioning of the Ministry of Environment and Forests .

Speaking during the debate, Devegowda expressed concern over the increasing encounters between humans and wildlife, attributing the conflict to flooded forests and shrinking natural habitats . "In my home state, every day, rogue elephants are moving in search of food , destroying crops and threatening the lives of farmers," he said. He stressed that irrigation projects and dams have submerged large forest areas, forcing elephants closer to human settlements. He urged the government to find immediate solutions to protect farmers and mitigate the conflict.

The discussion also saw Ravi Chandra Vaddiraju of YSRCP raising the issue of human-monkey conflicts in Telangana. Vaddiraju described a growing “ monkey menace ” in villages, with monkeys raiding fields and homes, injuring children, and causing severe distress to the farming community. He called on the central government to treat these incidents as serious human-wildlife conflicts .

The urgency of the issue has been underscored by a tragic incident in Jharkhand's Gumla district . On Monday night, a wild elephant attacked a house in Patratoli village , killing a five-month-old tribal girl and injuring her mother. Forest officials quickly visited the site and provided immediate relief of Rs 25,000 , with full compensation of Rs 4 lakh to be given following official procedures. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren recently expressed concern over the rising casualties from human-elephant encounters and directed officials to devise mechanisms to prevent such deaths.

These incidents highlight a growing crisis of human-wildlife interactions across multiple states, posing threats to both human lives and agriculture . Experts say that addressing habitat loss, improving forest management , and implementing community-based mitigation strategies are crucial to reduce such deadly encounters.

HD Devegowda ’s call in Parliament brings the issue into sharp focus, emphasising that protecting both farmers and wildlife requires immediate policy attention and effective ground-level action.