Karnataka govt hands over kumki elephants to Andhra Pradesh
Bengaluru (PTI): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday stressed the need for cooperation and coordination between states in mitigating human-elephant conflicts that are increasing, as Karnataka handed over six Kumki (trained) elephants to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
Four elephants were handed over by the Karnataka government to Andhra Pradesh at an event here that was attended by that state's Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
According to officials, the Kumki elephants will be used to control herds of rogue elephants in Andhra Pradesh, entering farmlands, ransacking fields and attacking people.
Elephants given to Andhra Pradesh are: Krishna (15) which was captured in Chikkamagaluru in 2022; Shivamogga Abhimanyu (14) captured in Honnali in 2023; Deva (39) captured in Kushalnagar in 2019; and Ranjan (26), an elephant born in the Dubare camp.
"We are handing over elephants to Andhra Pradesh from Karnataka. We have agreed on handing over six kumki elephants, but today we are handing over four and the remaining two will be handed over later. All these elephants are trained. For about one month, the mahouts who take care of elephants from Andhra were trained," Siddaramaiah said.
Addressing the handing over event, he said there are 3,695 elephants in the state, which is probably the highest in the country.
"In recent times, the human-elephant conflicts are increasing and cooperation of all states is important to prevent it. Only when there is coordination with other states, the conflicts can be brought down. If it can be prevented, it is even good. It has been increasing and should be brought down, as it is leading to loss of crops and lives. Stopping it is the responsibility of all states, including Karnataka," he added.
Stating that Karnataka has more elephants and has the potential to give them to other states, the CM said there is no need for anyone to worry.
"Increasing forest cover and protecting the forest is a responsible job. Human-elephant conflicts should be prevented. Let's all strive for it by joining hands with other states," he added.
Kumki elephants will help tackle the menace of wild elephants, destroying crops and occasionally attacking people in Andhra Pradesh, by driving wild herds back into forest limits.
Pawan Kalyan, later speaking to reporters, thanked Karnataka government for its help in mitigating human-elephant conflict in his state by providing Kumki elephants.
"Andhra Pradesh, for the last 20 years, has felt the need to mitigate elephant and human conflict and has thought about how to go about it. The Karnataka government has done an excellent job. Their mitigation measures are excellent and we are learning from the Karnataka government," he said.
Stating that the moment he approached Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre without any hesitation, he agreed to help us, which is a great gesture. Apart from Kumki elephants, we have also had deeper knowledge sharing, Kalyan said.
"We did not request elephants. It is their (Karnataka's) large heartedness. Even if they had given two elephants it was more. The Karnataka CM and the minister have blessed us with six elephants," he said, as he assured that the elephants will be taken care of well, and he would personally monitor them from time to time.
The elephants will be partly in Chittoor and north coastal Andhra. Kumki elephants will be used to guide the wild elephants and make sure that they don't come over to human habitation, which leads to human-elephant conflicts, he said.
Asked whether this is a new beginning in the relationship between two states, Kalyan said, "Exactly, this is what Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar also said. He spoke about speaking to Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu regarding Tungabhadra water sharing. I will take the request that has been put across. I will take it forward and meditate on whatever is needed between both states."
ದೇಶದಲ್ಲೇ ಆನೆ ಸಂಪತ್ತು ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿರುವ ರಾಜ್ಯ ನಮ್ಮದು. 3,695 ಆನೆಗಳು ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿವೆ. ಮಾನವ - ಆನೆ ಸಂಘರ್ಷ ತಡೆಗಟ್ಟಲು ಅಕ್ಕಪಕ್ಕದ ರಾಜ್ಯಗಳ ಸಹಕಾರವೂ ಅಗತ್ಯ.
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) May 21, 2025
ಮಾನವ, ಆನೆ ಸಂಘರ್ಷ ತಡೆಯುವುದರಿಂದ ಜೀವ ಹಾನಿ, ಬೆಳೆ ಹಾನಿ ತಪ್ಪುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ಮಹತ್ವದ ಉದ್ದೇಶದಿಂದಲೇ ರಾಜ್ಯದಿಂದ ಆರು ಕುಮ್ಕಿ ಆನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಆಂಧ್ರಕ್ಕೆ… pic.twitter.com/g8lAPC4NAB
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Strict security measures in place in Mumbai for Messi's events at 2 venues Dec 14, say police
Mumbai (PTI): In view of Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai on Sunday, the city police are implementing stringent security measures, like not allowing water bottles, metals, coins inside the stadiums and setting up watchtowers to keep an eye on the crowd, officials said.
The police also said taking extra care to avoid any stampede-like situation and to prevent recurrence of the chaotic situation that unfolded in Kolkata during Messi's visit on Saturday as thousands of fans protested inside the Salt Lake stadium here after failing to catch a clear glimpse of the football icon despite paying hefty sums for tickets.
Messi is expected to be present at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) in Mumbai on Sunday for a Padel GOAT Cup event followed by attending a celebrity football match. He is expected to proceed to the Wankhede Stadium for the GOAT India Tour main event around 5 pm.
"In view of Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai, the police are geared up and have put in place a high level of security arrangements in and around the stadiums located in south Mumbai. Considering the chaos that prevailed in Kolkata and the security breach, we have deployed World Cup-level security arrangements at Brabourne and Wankhede stadiums," an official said.
Expecting heavy crowd near the stadiums during Messi's visit, the city police force has deployed more than 2,000 of its personnel near and around both the venues, he said.
As the Mumbai police have the experience of security 'bandobast' during the victory parade of ICC World Cup-winning Indian team and World Cup final match at the Wankhede Stadium, in which over one lakh cricket fans had gathered, we are prepared to handle a large crowd of fans, he said.
"We are trying to avoid the errors that occurred in the past," the official said.
There is no place to sneak inside the stadiums in Mumbai like the Kolkata stadium, according to him.
The police are also asking the organisers to provide all the required facilities to the fans inside the stadium, so that there will be no chaos, he said, adding the spectators have purchased tickets in the range of Rs 5,000 to 25,000. After paying so much of amount, any spectator expects proper services, while enjoying the event, he said.
The police are expecting 33,000 spectators at the Wankhede Stadium and over 4,000 at Brabourne Stadium. Besides this, more than 30,000 people are expected outside and around the stadiums just to have a glimpse of the football sensation, he said.
The organisers responsible for Messi's India visit recently came to Mumbai to discuss security arrangements. During the meeting, the Mumbai police asked them not to take the event lightly, according to the official.
After those requirements were fulfilled, the final security deployment was chalked out, he said.
Police has the standard procedure of the security arrangements inside the Wankhede Stadium, where people are barred from taking water bottles, metals objects, coins. Police are setting up watch towers near the stadiums and there will be traffic diversions, so that there is maximum space available to stand, according to the official.
Police are also appealing to the spectators to use public transport service for commuting and avoid personal vehicles to reach south Mumbai.
To avoid any stampede-like situation, police are also taking precautionary measures and will stop the fans some distance ahead of the stadium and public announcement systems will be used to guide the crowd. Barricades will be placed at various places to manage the crowd.
In case the crowd swells up beyond expectation, the police will divert people to other grounds and preparations in this regard underway, he said.
Additional police force has been deployed in south Mumbai to tackle any kind of situation, he said.
