Wild gaur relocation drive launched in Karnataka's Malnad, a first in South India
Synopsis
Three deaths in Chikkamagaluru since February 2025 — the last a plantation worker gored in his abdomen — have pushed Karnataka to attempt something no South Indian state has done before: capture and relocate wild gaurs. A six-member vet team and two trained elephants are now on the ground at Koppa Estate, making this a landmark test of whether relocation can defuse one of India's most under-reported wildlife crises.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka has launched South India's first wild gaur capture-and-relocation operation, confirmed on 15 May 2025 .
The Forest Department has ordered the capture of three gaurs classified as dangerous, with operations starting near Koppa Estate .
A six-member veterinary team and two trained elephants are deployed; forest officials trained in Gujarat ahead of the mission.
Plantation worker Chethan, 30 , died on 18 April 2025 after a gaur pierced his abdomen in Kalasa taluk, Chikkamagaluru — the third such death in the district since February 2025 .
Wild gaurs have caused repeated crop damage and attacks on farmers across the Malnad belt .
A successful operation would make Karnataka the first South Indian state to have relocated wild gaurs.
Karnataka's Forest Department has launched what officials describe as a first-of-its-kind operation in South India to capture and relocate wild gaurs — commonly known as Indian bison — from the Malnad region, where repeated attacks on farmers and plantation workers have intensified the human-wildlife conflict. The operation began near Koppa Estate and was confirmed by officials on Friday, 15 May 2025.
What the Operation Involves
The Forest Department has issued formal orders to capture and relocate three gaurs classified as dangerous. A six-member team of veterinary experts, supported by two trained elephants, has been deployed at Koppa Estate to carry out the mission. Forest officials underwent specialised training across multiple states, including Gujarat, before the operation was launched — underlining the complexity and novelty of the task.
Why the Crisis Reached a Tipping Point
Wild gaurs have been repeatedly damaging crops across the Malnad belt and have attacked farmers and members of the public on several occasions. The situation reached a grim milestone when Chethan, a 30-year-old plantation worker, died on 18 April 2025 after a gaur attacked him at a private estate near Marasanige in Kalasa taluk, Chikkamagaluru district. He was working in the estate in the early hours when the animal charged at him; one of its horns pierced his abdomen. He was rushed to the government hospital at Kalasa, where he succumbed to his injuries. Notably, this was the third death from a gaur attack in Chikkamagaluru district since February 2025, triggering local protests over the state's response to the escalating conflict.
Community Response and Stakes
Residents and farmers in the Malnad region have welcomed the initiative, expressing hope that it will bring lasting relief from the fear of wild animal attacks. The menace caused by wild elephants had previously prompted relocation measures in the state, but a dedicated gaur relocation drive of this scale is unprecedented in South India.
What Happens If the Mission Succeeds
If the operation is completed successfully, Karnataka will become the first state in South India to have captured and relocated wild gaurs — setting a potential template for other states grappling with similar human-wildlife conflicts. Authorities have not yet disclosed the proposed relocation site for the three identified animals. The outcome of this initial phase is expected to determine whether the operation is scaled up across other conflict-prone areas of the Malnad belt.
Point of View
If overdue, response, but the operational blueprint raises questions: where will the relocated animals go, and has that habitat been assessed for carrying capacity? Relocating conflict animals without a credible destination plan has historically displaced the problem rather than solved it. The real test is whether this pilot at Koppa Estate translates into a replicable, science-backed protocol — or remains a one-off response to political pressure after Chethan's death sparked protests.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the wild gaur relocation operation launched in Karnataka?
It is South India's first government-led operation to capture and relocate wild gaurs — also called Indian bison — from the Malnad region of Karnataka. The Forest Department has ordered the relocation of three gaurs identified as dangerous, with operations beginning near Koppa Estate on 15 May 2025.
Why is the Karnataka government relocating wild gaurs from the Malnad region?
Wild gaurs have repeatedly damaged crops and attacked farmers in the Malnad belt, resulting in at least three deaths in Chikkamagaluru district since February 2025. The most recent fatality was plantation worker Chethan, 30, who died on 18 April 2025 after a gaur's horn pierced his abdomen.
Who is carrying out the gaur relocation and how?
A six-member team of veterinary experts, supported by two trained elephants, is carrying out the operation near Koppa Estate. Forest officials underwent specialised training in states including Gujarat before the mission began.
What makes this operation historic?
If successful, Karnataka will become the first state in South India to have captured and relocated wild gaurs. No comparable operation has been conducted in the region previously, making it a potential model for other states facing similar human-wildlife conflicts.
Who was Chethan and what happened to him?
Chethan was a 30-year-old plantation worker who was fatally attacked by a wild gaur on 18 April 2025 at a private estate near Marasanige in Kalasa taluk, Chikkamagaluru district. The gaur's horn pierced his abdomen while he was working; he was taken to the government hospital at Kalasa, where he died. His death was the third gaur-related fatality in the district since February 2025.
