Chamarajanagar (Karnataka), April 13 (IANS) The Karnataka Forest Minister has come under fire from the state Sugarcane Farmers’ Association over his proposal to reduce man-animal conflict in the state further by sterilisation or through Animal Birth Control measures, on the lines that is being mulled by other states in the country.
Criticising the state government’s move to consider sterilisation of wild animals to curb the rising human–wildlife conflict, the state Sugarcane Farmers’ Association President Bhagyaraj on Monday came down heavily on Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre.
It may be noted that Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre had recently proposed sterilisation or the use of immuno-contraception on select wild animal species to curb the growing human–wildlife conflict and population increase.
The proposal, introduced in April 2026, aims to protect human lives amid a rise in fatal incidents involving elephants and leopards and also make animal population control cruelty-free.
Earlier, farmers staged a blockade on the Mysuru–Chamarajanagar highway and expressed their outrage against Minister Khandre. They termed wildlife sterilisation as an unscientific and inhumane act.
They also lashed out, stating that the expert who suggested the idea to the Forest Minister should be given psychiatric treatment.
Farmers further voiced their anger against MLAs Puttarangashetty and A.R. Krishnamurthy for travelling to Delhi to lobby for Cabinet posts while neglecting the interests of the state.
Addressing reporters in Chamarajanagar on Monday, Bhagyaraj expressed strong opposition to the proposal to sterilise wildlife and alleged that it was a plan to kill wild animals.
“This is a plan to kill wild animals and sell their skins and tusks. That is the real intention. It is clear they are trying to misuse the forests,” Bhagyaraj alleged.
He further stated that the Supreme Court has also opposed the sterilisation of wild animals, and termed the minister’s statement inappropriate and demanded that it be withdrawn.
He reiterated that the expert who proposed the idea should be given psychiatric treatment.
“The human–wildlife conflict in the region is a failure of the governments. The proposal to sterilise wild animals is not tenable. The Forest Minister has made an unscientific decision. He should withdraw his statement and express regret,” he claimed.
He further stated that sterilisation should instead be applied to corrupt individuals in the state legislature, Parliament, officials, and those who have amassed wealth through illegal means. He added that it should be applied to those preventing the younger generation from entering politics.
He said that animals in forests are inherently non-violent and are being disturbed by safaris, jungle lodges, homestays, and resorts. Due to such activities, they are being forced to move into residential areas.
He added that during summer, due to a lack of drinking water, wild animals venture out of forests. He also claimed that such sterilisation experiments have led to tragedies in other states.
–IANS
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