Nara Lokesh applauds Pawan Kalyan for bringing Kumki elephants to AP

 Andhra Pradesh’s Minister for Human Resources Development, IT, and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, has lauded Deputy Chief Minister and Forest Minister Pawan Kalyan for his instrumental role in facilitating the transfer of six Kumki elephants from Karnataka. 

The initiative aims to address the rising incidents of human-elephant conflict in regions such as Chittoor and Parvathipuram Manyam, where wild elephants have caused extensive damage to crops and posed threats to human lives.

The ceremonial handover of four trained Kumki elephants—Krishna (15), Abhimanyu (14), Deva (39), and Ranjan (26)—took place on May 21 at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. The event was attended by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, and Pawan Kalyan. Two more elephants are expected to arrive in Andhra Pradesh in the coming weeks.

Crucial intervention

“This is a crucial intervention to ease the suffering of farmers who have long struggled with crop destruction and the threat of wild elephant attacks,” Lokesh said, praising Kalyan’s proactive leadership. “By securing Kumki elephants, we are taking a tangible step toward safeguarding both lives and livelihoods.”

Kumki elephants are specially trained to manage and herd back wild elephants that stray into human settlements. Their deployment is expected to significantly improve wildlife management along Andhra Pradesh’s forested borders.

The move follows extensive efforts by Kalyan dating back to August 2024, when he formally requested assistance from Karnataka. 

A multi-state Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in September 2024 between Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, and Kerala, laid the groundwork for the elephant transfer. The agreement also includes broader collaborations in areas such as wildlife protection, eco-tourism development, and red sanders smuggling prevention.

During the handover ceremony, Kalyan performed a symbolic Gaja Puja, offering floral tributes to the elephants and underlining their significance in the state’s conservation efforts. Expressing gratitude, he said, “Karnataka’s generous support reflects a strong sense of regional solidarity and shared responsibility for environmental stewardship.”

The Kumki elephants will be housed at a newly established care facility near Palamaneru in Chittoor district. A team of Andhra Pradesh mahouts, trained by Karnataka’s forest department, will work closely with their Karnataka counterparts for two months to ensure a smooth transition and continued care.

Lokesh’s endorsement of the initiative aligns with the state’s broader environmental and agricultural priorities, particularly at a time when managing human-wildlife interactions is becoming increasingly urgent.

This collaborative step between states is being hailed as a successful example of proactive governance. As Andhra Pradesh prepares to deploy the elephants to vulnerable zones, Pawan Kalyan’s role as Forest Minister continues to draw appreciation for his hands-on approach to resolving critical rural issues and fostering interstate cooperation.