A Belagavi-based wildlife conservationist has called on the State government to launch a high-level inquiry into the deaths of two wild elephants in Belagavi district and to take legal action against officials if negligence or dereliction of duty is established.
In a letter to the government, Giridhar Kulkarni thanked Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre for ordering a probe into the electrocution of two elephants on November 2 in the Nagargali Forest Range, and for directing the Chief Wildlife Warden to examine whether departmental lapses played a role.
Mr. Kulkarni noted that the case bore similarities to the earlier incident in the Hoogyam Range of MM Hills, where five tigers were allegedly poisoned in retaliation. He recalled that the government had fixed accountability in that case by suspending senior forest officials, urging that the elephant deaths be treated with equal seriousness.
He said the incident demanded a thorough investigation and strict follow-up, and requested the formation of a high-level inquiry committee headed by an officer of APCCF rank, following the precedent set in the MM Hills tiger case.
Mr. Kulkarni sought the immediate constitution of an independent team led by an APCCF-level officer to conduct an on-site inspection in Nagargali and assess compliance with statutory and court-mandated duties. Such a visit, he said, was necessary to evaluate ground conditions objectively and recommend urgent corrective measures.
He also urged the Chief Conservator of Forests, Belagavi Circle, and the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Belagavi Division, to provide verified compliance reports related to High Court directions issued in Writ Petition No. 14029/2008 and Writ Petition No. 16219/2024, along with documentary proof of actions taken, if these reports have already been submitted to the Chief Wildlife Warden or the APCCF (Project Elephant).
His petition sought immediate action against the ACF and RFO concerned, pending the outcome of an independent inquiry; a time-bound investigation to fix responsibility for the electrocution; a detailed compliance report on the implementation of High Court directives in Belagavi Division and other elephant habitats; and urgent coordination with the Energy Department to address dangerous power lines, remove illegal electrification, and prevent further electrocutions in the Nagargali region.
Copies of Mr. Kulkarni’s letter have been forwarded to PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Prabhash Chandra Ray, Additional PCCF (Wildlife) Biswajit Mishra, and Additional PCCF (Project Elephant) Manoj Rajan.
