Two Kumki Elephants to Arrive in Manyam

These elephants, specially skilled in guiding and calming wild herds, are expected to play a pivotal role in managing and translocating elephants that have strayed into human settlements.

The deployment, at the behest of deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan, forms part of a larger conservation and habitat restoration initiative spearheaded by the forest department, aimed at balancing ecological needs with community safety.

Mohammad Diwan Mydeen, conservator of forests here, told Deccan Chronicle, “We are preparing a habitat for the elephants in a 400-hectare area in Guchimi, Sitanagaram mandal. The habitat centre would be ready by Sept 30.”

To ensure the safety and containment of the elephants, the department has dug a trench five metres deep around the habitat. This trench would act as a barrier to prevent the elephants from wandering outside the designated area. Additionally, a solar-powered fence has been installed beyond the trench for extra protection.

“We are making the arrangements to accommodate the two Kumki elephants,” Mydeen said.

“Just two days ago, four elephants from Chittoor helped in guiding wild elephants back into the forest. Two of those trained elephants will now be brought to Guchimi to support similar operations here,” he said.

The Guchimi Centre is now under construction, with several key facilities being developed. These include quarters for mahouts (elephant handlers), a dedicated elephant shed, bathing areas and crawls or fenced enclosures used to house and manage wild elephants after capture. These crawls are essential for safely containing the elephants during their transition period.

Once the construction is complete, experts from institutions such as the Wildlife Institute of India are expected to visit it. Dr Sukumar, a professor from the Indian Institute of Science, is currently here to provide guidance.

One of the challenges in managing wild herds is the presence of calves. A male elephant calf was born last year, followed by two more male calves. “Until last year, the herd consisted only of female elephants. The birth of these calves has increased the potential for population growth, making careful management even more critical,” Mydeen explained.

Once the habitat is ready and the elephants are captured, the forest department will begin the translocation process. Several options are being considered, including returning the elephants to their native habitat in Odisha.

Other proposals include relocating the elephants to the Nagarjuna Sagar Srisailam tiger reserve or into the forests of Chittoor.