Andhra Pradesh gets 4 trained jumbos from Karnataka, Pawan Kalyan terms it ‘eco federalism’ | Bengaluru News
Bengaluru: Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan Wednesday garnered applause when he opened his speech in Kannada and said: “I bow my head and offer my respects to Mother Karnataka, the beloved daughter of Mother India, to this sacred land, and to the citizens of Karnataka.“He spoke outside Vidhana Soudha before his state officially received four trained (Kumki) elephants from Karnataka to help address human-elephant conflicts. Terming it “ecological federalism”, Kalyan promised to personally care for these “ambassadors of harmony.” He stressed that this wasn’t merely relocation but “a relaying of hope” and thanked Karnataka for its “ecological brotherhood.”Later, Kalyan told TOI that these elephants will be taken to the Chittoor region and a modern elephant camp will be set up. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah noted that the state has 6,395 elephants—India’s highest population—and made this gesture to help reduce human-elephant conflicts.Forest minister Eshwar Khandre said while Andhra Pradesh requested eight elephants, Karnataka initially agreed to six and delivered four semi-trained jumbos. Karnataka mahouts will remain in Andhra Pradesh for a month. Andhra must provide annual health reports per their agreement.Actor-politician Kalyan faced overwhelming crowds seeking selfies at his hotel and Vidhana Soudha, delaying his arrival by an hour. Police struggled to control the fans and the staff eager to photograph the ‘Power Star’.The elephants that came from Nagarahole, on the other hand, also endured hardship having had to travel 150km overnight by truck. Despite BBMP and forest officials providing fodder, rice, jaggery, and water, animal activists criticised the govt for making elephants walk on asphalt for hours instead of holding a symbolic ceremony. One elephant reportedly resisted approaching the stage before being forced by its mahout.Box: ‘Shikari to Safari…’Sharing his wildlife encounters from childhood to present day, DCM DK Shivakumar, said: “I have footage of 50 elephants passing my Kanakapura home. Recently at my son-in-law’s Kabini resort, forest officials showed me a tiger and leopard in the morning, while we spotted 150 elephants during an evening boat ride. Though I explored forests for fishing as a boy, I’ve never experienced such remarkable wildlife sightings in my lifetime,” Shivakumar said, highlighting Karnataka’s natural heritage.
