The ongoing human-elephant conflict in Kodagu district intensified recently with a tragic incident on August 17, 2026, where a 34-year-old estate worker, Gopal Baluri from West Bengal, was trampled to death by a wild tusker in Ghattadalla, Karadigodu village, under Siddapura limits. Another worker, Jadavi Baluri, sustained serious injuries and is undergoing treatment at the District Hospital in Madikeri. This unfortunate event has brought the total number of fatalities due to elephant attacks in Kodagu this year to eight, highlighting the severe and persistent nature of the conflict.
The incident immediately triggered widespread outrage and protests across the district. Residents, farmers, and various labour organizations, including the BJP Raitha Morcha, condemned the increasing number of deaths and demanded urgent action from the state government and forest department. Protesters in Siddapur accused the Forest Department of failing to implement adequate measures to address the menace, even warning of a district-wide bandh if officials did not convene a meeting to discuss permanent solutions. In response to the escalating crisis, particularly following intervention from Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna, the state government has approved the capture and relocation of three wild elephants in the Virajpet area identified as repeatedly involved in conflict. An operation involving drones and trained elephants from the Dubare camp was launched to drive these elephants away from human habitations, with prohibitory orders imposed in 11 villages in Virajpet taluk during the operation.
