Category Archives: Business & Economy

As demand goes up, scientists in Kodagu develop new avocado variety

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The new variety will have 80% pulp and is expected to improve coffee based avocado cultivation.

Scientists at Central Horticultural Experiment Station in Kodagu have developed a new avocado variety ‘Arka Coorg Ravi.’ | Photo Credit: DARSHAN DEVAIAH B.P.

Bengaluru:

As the demand for avocado, popularly known as butter fruit, is increasing in the cosmetic industry as well as for consumption, scientists at the Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES) in Kodagu have developed a new variety called ‘Arka Coorg Ravi’, which will further improve coffee-based avocado cultivation in the district.

According to scientists in CHES, the new variety will have 80% pulp and the rest seed, making the fruit profitable for farmers.

Speaking to The Hindu, Madhu G.S, scientist in CHES, said: “Avocado, which is described as a miracle fruit for its health and nutritional benefits, is now also in huge demand in the cosmetic industry. The fruit is used in many skincare products. We have researched and developed Arka Coorg Ravi, which will help farmers in the district. The fruit is grown on about 500 hectares in Kodagu amidst the coffee plantations and the area of cultivation has seen a rise in recent years.”

The CHES recently started distributing the Arka Coorg Ravi grafts to the farmers. The centre has already developed 30,000 avocado grafts which have been distributed to farmers in the district.

“The new variety developed by the CHES will have at least 450 to 600 grams of weight per avocado, which will make the fruit profitable. Seedlings take 10 years to give yield, while graft plants start yielding from at least in the seventh year,” S. Rajendran, scientist, CHES Chettalli in Kodagu told The Hindu.

Recently, the CHES had a farmer-scientist interaction on the cultivation techniques of avocados in the district. According to CHES, farmers from different parts of Karnataka and also from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana have been purchasing avocado saplings or grafts to grow in their State.

Since Kodagu district saw two natural calamities in 2018 and 2019, which caused huge losses to farmers, especially coffee growers, they are now growing avocados on the coffee plantations.

“In the last few years, due to the floods in the district, coffee production has come down, and coffee is also not fetching an attractive price now. Hence, I have started cultivating avocados as a mixed crop in my coffee plantation and it is now yielding fruits and it can be a good alternative to offset the losses from coffee and black pepper,” said Roshan Poovanna, a farmer from Virajpet.

According to farmers, Kodagu avocados have a market in Kerala and Maharashtra, apart from Karnataka. “Local varieties yield fruit twice a year, February to May and June to September. Now, we have some more varieties that yield fruits around the year. Now the CHES has developed a new variety. I hope this will produce more avocados from the district and get a good market price. However, the government should promote and create awareness about the growing of mixed crops in coffee plantations so that the farmers can avoid losses from other crops,” said Praveen Nanaiah, a farmer from Madikeri.

Earlier, as part of crop diversification, the farmers in Kodagu were growing ‘Coorg mandarin’ oranges, grown as a mixed crop on the estates along with coffee and black pepper.

However, in the past few years, the Coorg mandarin cultivation is coming down due to the threat of citrus greening disease.

Benefits of avocados

Avocado, botanically known as Persea Americana, is an evergreen plant and can grow in diverse environmental conditions. On average, one avocado tree produces about 120 to 150 fruits annually.

The fruit has a high monounsaturated fat content, which is considered healthy. One fruit contains 25% of the recommended daily amount of saturated fat.

Avocados also have 60% more potassium than bananas and are rich in vitamins B, E, and K. Its juice acts as an antioxidant and its seeds are used to manufacture paper.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Darshan Devaiah B.P. / January 01st, 2023

‘Coorg Role Models’ book launched

Business & Economy, Defence Services (Air,Land,Sea),Police (wef. Dec 09th, 2021), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Sports, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022), , , , , ,

Journalist and author P T Bopanna has launched his new book ‘Coorg Role Models’, which profiles the winners of the ‘Coorg Person of the Year’ title from 2005 to 2020.

Bopanna has authored eight books so far, including the Gourmand award-winning book ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ and the bestselling books – ‘Are Kodavas (Coorg) Hindus?’ and ‘Rise and Fall of the Coorg State’.

About his latest book, Bopanna said, “Kodavas, a microscopic minority community hailing from Kodagu (Coorg) in Karnataka, were once known for their leadership qualities. This Kodava trait of being natural leaders was very much evident in the Defence Services, and Kodagu came to be known as the ‘Land of the Generals’.”

“However, in the last few decades, the community has not produced many truly outstanding men and women, except in the arena of sports. As a chronicler of Kodagu, I felt that one of the reasons for their inability to play a leadership role was the absence of enough role models in the community,” he said.

“With a view to reigniting the famed leadership qualities in the community, I promoted the concept of ‘Coorg Person of the Year’ in 2005. The selection of the Coorg person was made on the basis of a poll I conducted through my portal www.coorgtourisminfo.com,” he added.

The selection was not confined to the Kodava community but included all residents of Coorg. For instance, one of the joint winners of the title in 2018 was industrialist Ashok Kumar Shetty, who donated part of his land to the government for building a road that was damaged by the floods and landslides of 2018. Another winner is Dr S V Narasimhan, the birdman of Coorg, he said.

The book features the achievements of the winners of the Coorg Person title. It is published by Rolling Stone Publications. The foreword for the book is written by Preeth Ganapathy, who is an officer of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). She is currently posted as Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Bangalore.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by P T Bopanna / DHNS, Madikeri / July 06th, 2021

Karnataka Travel: Heard Of Chiklihole Dam In Coorg? Here’s Why It’s An Undiscovered Beauty That You Can’t Afford To Miss

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021), , , ,

Chiklihole Dam, a modest reservoir in Coorg is located within Karnataka’s Cauvery basin. For those seeking some solitude and serenity away from the crowd, the hidden spot is the best choice!

Chiklihole Reservoir Coorg
Karnataka Travel: Heard of Chiklihole Dam in Coorg? Here’s Why It’s an Undiscovered Beauty That You Can’t Afford to Miss (Picture Credit: A_Lasting_Impression_43/Instagram)

Coorg’s Undiscovered Beauty: 

Nature lovers that take the chance of travelling from distant locations merely to experience nature’s grandeur are drawn to the lush green surrounds, the freshness of the rain, and also the splendour of the waterfalls.

The Chiklihole Dam in Coorg, a man-made reservoir, is one of the undiscovered beauties in Karnataka’s Coorg.

Coorg is a captivating hill town in the Karnataka region that is home to expansive coffee fields, towering hills, and fascinating waterfalls. Coorg is situated in idyllic surroundings and presents countless opportunities to get personal with nature and its beauties. Coorg’s hidden gem – Chiklihole Reservoir is truly a sight to behold!

The Chiklihole Dam in Coorg is a great illustration of how natural and man-made buildings can coexist. The water reservoir is surrounded by lush vegetation on all sides, still water in the centre, and an enormous grand dam on the opposite side between Kushalnagar and Madikeri.

Chiklihole Reservoir
Chiklihole Reservoir is surrounded by gorgeous scenery, making it a delight to witness. (Picture Credit: Integrity Wellness/Twitter)

The dam is round in shape and has no crest gates. Travellers are drawn in by the dam’s distinctive shape alone. They are treated to an amazing sight as the water overflows like foam on the curved structures due to the increased input. This water body’s breathtaking surroundings are majestic and extremely pleasing to the eye. The reservoir has lush green woodlands on one side and a grassy meadow on the other, which adds to the area’s tranquillity.

Chiklihole Dam in Coorg, Karnataka, has breathtaking natural beauty. (Picture Credit: Sixth Element/Twitter)

Chiklihole Dam: Know The Ticket Price And Timings

Chiklihole Dam is Coorg’s undiscovered beauty that offers tranquillity from the hustle and bustle of the city. The location is rural, thus there are no shops. If visitors intend to unwind for a day or even a few hours by the dam, they should bring their own snacks and water.

Chiklihole Dam Timings: 8 AM to 5 PM

Chiklihole Dam Ticket Price: Free Entry

From the dam, you may enjoy a beautiful sunset view. Unfortunately, there isn’t a single store or business that provides amenities for tourists due to the location’s remoteness. The monsoon and winter season i.e from June to March are the greatest times to visit the dam since the weather is comfortable, the water level in the dam rises, and the scenery is beautiful.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of India.com. The writer is solely responsible for any claims arising out of the contents of this article. All the products are independently selected by the author. For any such reviews, please contact himanshu.shekhar@India.com

source: http://www.india.com / India.com / Home> Travel / by Travel Staff , edited Tanya Garg / September 11th, 2022

Must-Shop Indigenous Culinary Ingredients Of Coorg

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All

For centuries, the Kodava people have been self-reliant on their cuisine, depending on the indigenous local produce; the concept of slow food comes naturally to the region’s communities. Most popular dishes of the Kodagu cuisine utilise naturally grown ingredients making it not just sustainable cooking but also one of the fantastic cuisines of India. 

As a culinary researcher, I am not biased towards any cuisine per se; however, the cuisine of Coorg has been an aspirational cuisine for me to explore. In the very first session, I attended on the regional cuisines of India, the discussion on the Kodagu cuisine was the highlight of the session, my mentor Dr P.S Sandilya explained to us the uniqueness of the food from the landlocked and less connected place of Coorg, its rich forests, spices, and the coffee plantations, and I was transported in my imagination to the beautiful region of Coorg, which I visited in December this year. 

The only way to reach Coorg is by road. For centuries, the Kodava people have been self-reliant on their cuisine, depending on the indigenous local produce; the concept of slow food comes naturally to the region’s communities. Most popular dishes of the Kodagu cuisine utilise naturally grown ingredients making it not just sustainable cooking but also one of the fantastic cuisines of India. 

Coffee

All around Coorg, you will find coffee plantations adorning the hill slopes. Not only can you enjoy the flavourful and aromatic coffees brewed at the local coffee shops, but you can also shop for coffee beans from different estates to take home. Coorg produces 40% of India’s coffee and is known to have a mild tropical flavour owing to the shades in which they are grown. The big cup café is one of the popular cafes in Madikeri, where you can experience the fantastic coffee from their estate called ‘Sandalkad estate’. Coffees are roasted in Situ, and watching the process unfold in front of your eyes is an enriching experience for a coffee enthusiast. Arabica, as well as robusta varieties of coffee, are available, which one can also experience growing in the plantations situated just 5 minutes away from the café. 

Markets in Madikeri, as well as the popular Kushal Nagar market, are beaming with shops selling coffee beans and powders from estates around the region, and makes for an ideal shopping experience to get hold of culinary gems from the region, known as the ‘Coffee Cup of India’. 

Spices 

Most visitors to Coorg stock up on the spices grown in the region. Coorg is one of India’s finest spice-growing regions, and one must buy a combination of different spices like pepper, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves etc. Most Spice sellers of Coorg grow the products in their plantations and have fresh produce of different quality, oil content, and aroma, owing to the time of the year they are grown in. Being locally produced, one can buy high-quality spices at low prices in Madikeri, Kushalnagar, and Virajpet. Do a thorough inspection and ask to taste some of the spices. The aromatic pepper and cardamom found in Coorg will undoubtedly enthrall you, and you will buy more than you were set out to. 

Kachampuli 

Must-Shop Indigenous Culinary Ingredients Of Coorg
Image credits: Kachampuli

Coorg’s cuisine is bound to impress you with its unique flavours and high-quality, locally-grown ingredients. Your curiosity about the fantastic cuisine of Coorg majorly lies in the famed souring agent called ‘Kachampuli’. The dark fruity vinegar is extracted from the ripe fruits of a tree called ‘Garcinia Gummi- Guta’. Its unique flavour profile lends sourness to meat, chicken and vegetarian dishes alike and is used in dishes like Pandi curry and dry fry preparations like ‘Barthand’. ‘Kachampuli’s’ sour and astringent flavour combined with the flavourful spices makes for a heavenly combination, making Coorg cuisine one of the finest regional cuisines of India. 

‘Kachampuli’ is also known for its health quotient, beneficial for weight loss, lowering cholesterol, and excellent digestive properties. One must buy a bottle of Kachampuli to try cooking ‘Coorgi’ dishes at home and celebrate your love for good food. 

Honey 

In an ecosphere like one of the nature-rich Coorg, bees play an essential role as effective pollinators, feeding on the rich flora of the surroundings. Resultantly, and with the constant effort of the beekeepers, the honey produced in Coorg has attained a special status, defining its unique taste, aroma and colour. Do not miss out on buying a bottle of ‘Coorgi’ honey to take home, along with the sweet memories of the picturesque Coorg. 

Chocolates 

Chocolates are another ‘Coorgi’ delicacy one must indulge in. If you are travelling with kids, it’s tough to ignore this decadent ‘Coorgi’ product anyways. Homemade chocolates are sold in every nook and corner of Coorg, with numerous flavours, stuffings, shapes and sizes; buying chocolates in Coorg is not just inevitable but is also a pleasure to your senses. Visit choci chocolate, a speciality chocolate store located in Madikeri, for an exciting experience gorging at the choco goodies; you will indeed be tempted to try the different varieties of spectacular tasting chocolates of Coorg. 

Other Products To Look Out For 

In Coorg, there is plenty of produce. Dry fruits like Raisins, Cashews, and Figs are of good quality in the region. Grapes and Oranges are of good quality as well. Grapes are used to produce homemade wines, which can be tried and then bought at very reasonable prices all across Coorg. Home-made wines come in different and unique flavours, from fruity to chilli and spiced wines. Bamboo shoots, also known as ‘Bimballe’, are grown locally and are a delicious choice for vegetarians to enjoy the ‘Bimballe’ curry, to be enjoyed with ‘Kadambuttu’, the steamed rice balls. ‘Sanakki rice’, the short-grained and aromatic rice grown in Karnataka, is used to prepare Akki Roti, Nool Puttu, Kadambuttu, Paputtu etc. One can also buy coarsely ground rice semolina called ‘Akki Tari’, which can be an ideal ingredient to prepare rice-based idlis, upmas, puttus, etc. 

‘Kaartha Masala’ is the regional spice mix of Coorg used in preparing traditional dishes such as the famed Pandi curry, chicken and fish dishes, the dark coloured masala is made of dry roasted spices of Coorg like coriander seeds, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, black peppercorns etc. 

Of the many delicious indigenous ingredients growing in Coorg, the tradition of making pickles and chutneys is common to all households in that region. These amazing pickles can be bought from stores and markets, making it easy for you to relish the flavour of Coorg cuisine for a long time.   

Writing this article has been a tease to my palate, as it is tough to discuss such delicious ingredients without your mouth being flooded with water. Having enjoyed these flavours over the period of two weeks that I have spent in Coorg has been one of the best culinary experiences of my life, and I would urge you all to explore this fantastic region of Coorg and treat your taste buds with some of the finest culinary produce of India. Coorg’s weather and beautiful locations will keep your senses and soul satiated with natural goodness. Coorg is waiting for you! 

Sidharth Bhan Gupta, is a food writer travelling across India on a Cultural and Culinary Exploration.  

source: http://www.slurrp.com / Slurrp / Home> Article / by Sidharth Bhan Gupta / December 19th, 2022

Kodagu grower makes big gains from dwarf Robusta coffee variety

Agriculture, Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, , , , , , , , ,

Suresh has harvested nearly 7000 kilos of ripened coffee beans from a total of 1220 dwarf varieties of Robusta plants.

coffee
Image used for representational purpose only.

Madikeri :

The coffee sector is not doing well. The reasons are many such as crop damage caused by incessant rains, disease outbreaks and overall changes in climatic conditions. However, a 
“progressive” farmer in Madikeri, Ponnachettira Suresh is doing well. Suresh has harvested nearly 7000 kilos of ripened coffee beans from a total of 1220 dwarf varieties of Robusta plants.

“A planter is also a doctor who treats the plants,” Suresh quips.

It was in 2020 that Suresh learnt about the dwarf variety of Robusta coffee from a friend in Kolkata. Always open to experimenting, Suresh availed five seeds of this dwarf Robusta variety and he developed them into seedlings.

“Out of the five seeds, one did not survive. However, from the four seedlings, I propagated 196 dwarf plants and I have now planted 1220 plants of the same species,” explained Suresh.

With 6 feet X 6 feet spacing, a total of three acres of land was developed with the dwarf variety of Robusta and Suresh planted Gliricidia Tree for the shade across the area.

“The plants are yielding after three years and I have picked 7000 kilos so far,” he said.

Suresh explained that the dwarf variety does not require any over-the-top maintenance. “The plantation was manured five to six times, irrigated in February and March with sprinkler irrigation and a chemical spray was carried out before monsoon to avoid dropping and rotting of the plants,” he added. He opined that the maintenance of the plantation varies and depends on the condition of the soil, weather and other variants.

“I do not use complex manure. Instead, I feed the plants with only the required amount of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. These nutrients are fed by hand as per requirement. While the labour charge might increase in this process, it will ensure proper health and growth of the plant as not all nutrients are required in equal amounts,” he shared.  He provides the plants with nutrients depending on the weather condition, which has helped his estate flourish.

“However, the dwarf Robusta variety has not been certified by the Coffee Board and this might be due to the lack of interest in this regard. Nevertheless, I have marked five dwarf variety plants and I will be recording the yield of these plants for the coming five years. This data will be handed over to the coffee board,” he said.

Suresh has always been a “progressive” grower and he has a 400-year-old Robusta plant known as Robusta Peridenia, a 200-year-old variety known as Coffea Congensis and other rare varieties of crops that are still yielding. He is also an avid orange grower and has won a state award for best cultivation of Coorg Mandarin.   

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / December 18th, 2022

Honey festival in Madikeri

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Honey (Apiculture, Bee Keeping) (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021), Records, All, , , , , , ,

The Kodagu district administration has planned a Honey Festival in the gardens of Raja Seat in Madikeri on December 24 and 25.

The festival, which has been planned in association with Kodagu Zilla Panchayat and Horticulture Department, is aimed at encouraging apiculture in Kodagu in view of the worldwide demand for Coorg honey.

The festival is expected to bring together not only people engaged in apiculture, but also scientists, societies and companies engaged in producing honey.

The festival will also feature demonstrations on apiculture and other technical knowledge of the field by local researchers and scientists from the College of Forestry and government officials, and exhibition stalls.

More information can be obtained from the Deputy Director of Horticulture Chikkera Pramod on 94831-10621 and Vasanth B.D. on 94490-75077.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / December 17th, 2022

Sri Kaveri Kodava Association Mysuru-East Holds Get-Together

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All, Samajas, Associations, Clubs (wef. Sept. 03rd, 2022)), Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022)

Mysore/Mysuru:

The annual get-together of Sri Kaveri Kodava Association, Mysuru-East, was held at its premises in Vidyashankar Layout in city on Nov. 27. Rangayana Mysuru Director Addanda  C. Cariappa was the chief guest. Kodava Samaja Mysuru President Mechanda M. Shashi Ponnappa was the special invitee. Association President Puliyanda S. Devaiah presided over the function.

Three senior members — Kalappanda B. Vishwanath, Kanjithanda  K. Aiyappa (ex-President) and Chowrira K. Seethamma (Chairperson – Academic Council) — were honoured by the Association for their selfless contribution.

Also, three members from the Association — Ittira Dr. Priya Uthaiah, Pattamada Dr. Lavya Muthamma and Manduvanda Kumari Ektha Ganapathy — were felicitated for their outstanding achievement in the field of education.

Students who achieved academic excellence were also honoured by the Association. Members gathered in large numbers and made the event a grand success.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 14th, 2022

23rd Kodava Hockey Festival From March 20

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Hosts Appachettolanda family expecting participation of more than 350 teams

Madikeri:

The Kodava Family Hockey or ‘Hockey Namme’ is back with a bang after a gap of four years. This time, the tournament will be hosted by the Appachettolanda family from March 20 to April 10, 2023 at Napoklu village in Kodagu.

“After 2018, the hockey festival did not see the light of the day due to natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. We will be organising the 23rd annual ‘Hockey Namme’ in 2023 in a grand manner. The fest will be held at Napoklu General Thimayya Ground and more than 350 Kodava families are likely to take part in the tournament,” said Appachettolanda Manu Muthappa, the President of the Hockey Festival Committee.

Addressing a press conference in Madikeri recently, he said that in the last hockey tournament held in 2018, a total of 333 Kodava families participated in the Kulletria Cup Hockey and this time, they were expecting the participation of more than 350 families.

The festival is being conducted under the aegis of Kodava Hockey Academy.

It may be mentioned here that to prepare the family teams for the upcoming hockey festival, the Kodava Hockey Academy had organised the first Pandanda M. Kuttappa Memorial Cup rink hockey festival, in memory of the founder of the Academy and the hockey festival. It was organised from Oct. 27 to Nov. 6 at Ponnampet Turf Ground and a total of 114 teams had participated.

The logo of the Appachettolanda Cup family tournament was unveiled in Bengaluru recently by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai where a delegation of the family had called on the CM. Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah, MLC Suja Kushalappa and the tournament-organising family members were present.

“The CM has assured us that a Rs. 1 crore grant will be released for the hockey festival for the first time and the CM has consented to inaugurate the tournament on March 20. In all, Rs. 1.50 crore will be spent for the festival and the remaining Rs. 50 lakh will be pooled-in by the family members and collected from donors. We are planning to invite and felicitate a host of national and international hockey players who have made the Kodagu district proud and hockey champions from all communities will be honoured,” Manu Muthappa said.

In all, three grounds will be utilised for the hockey festival and they will be also used as a back-up in case it rains. Kodava Hockey Academy President Pandanda Bopanna, who is the son of late Pandanda Kuttappa, will be one of the guests in the inaugural event. “It was his father who launched the first Kodava Family Hockey Tournament in 1997 and was organised by the Pandanda family, Manu Muthappa noted.

Secretary of the Hockey Festival Committee Appachettolanda Vasanth Muthappa, members Appachettolanda Harish Somaiah, Appachettolanda Ravi Monnappa, Appachettolanda Janath Kumar and others were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 13th, 2022

Mapping of elephant corridor under way in Kodagu

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021), , , , ,

Large populations of wild elephants moved freely between Kodagu and Kerala states even as the Bramhagiri-Nagarahole-Wayanad forest was known to be an age-old elephant corridor.

Elephant image used for representational purpose only. (Photo | Special Arrangement)
Elephant image used for representational purpose only. (Photo | Special Arrangement)

Madikeri :

Elephants are migratory beings and tigers are known to be territorial. However, with forests depleting to make way for human-centric development, wildlife conflict is peaking, as is evident in Kodagu. Nevertheless, experts opine that the conflict can be addressed scientifically by not just establishing conflict-mitigation projects, but by connecting fragmented forest areas.

While humans are confined to district, state, national and international borders, the wildlife, especially elephants, migrate without borders. Similarly, a large population of wild elephants moved freely between Kodagu and Kerala states even as Bramhagiri-Nagarahole-Wayanad forest was known to be an age-old elephant corridor.

However, this corridor has now been fragmented and the Kodagu division of the Forest Department is keen on connecting the fragmented forest area to make way for the free movement of the elephants. This in turn will also create a large undisturbed forest area for the territorial tigers too.

“Over 150 acres of two private coffee estates has disconnected the elephant corridor and is disrupting free movement of the elephants. The department is in talks with estate owners to purchase the land and establish an elephant corridor,” said B N Niranjan Murthy, Chief Conservator of Forests of Kodagu division.

A huge gap between Bramhagiri and Wayanad forest area has forced the elephants to tread through villages and on roads to continue their migration. An estimate of Rs 25 crore has been drawn to procure private lands even as the department holds a vision to invest on a flyover in an area for vehicle movement.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / December 07th, 2022