A 17-year-old college student, Pooja, died on February 28, 2026, after being attacked by a wild elephant near her home in Bettathuru village, Kodagu district, Karnataka. She was returning from college when the incident occurred just 100 metres from the forest edge. Six weeks later, on April 8, Mokalamada Rathu, a 56-year-old coffee planter, was killed by an elephant in Kaiemani, South Kodagu. Both victims succumbed to injuries before reaching medical care, sparking protests over forest management failures.

State government data obtained by The Hindu shows 47 human fatalities due to animal attacks in Kodagu over the past five years, placing it among the worst-affected districts alongside Chamarajanagar. Between 2021-22 and 2025-26, Karnataka recorded 259 deaths from animal attacks, with 65 in 2023-24 alone. In April 2026, Raja Shetti, a 65-year-old farmer, was killed by a tusker in Kanaguppe, Hassan district, despite prior warnings from the Elephant Task Force. Similar incidents have occurred in Chikkamagaluru, including two deaths in Hunasehalli village within one week in February.

Affected districts—Kodagu, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Mysuru, and Chamarajanagar—lie along forest corridors where elephant herds regularly move through agricultural and residential areas. Residents report repeated crop destruction and constant fear, especially among children commuting to school. Protests have erupted after each incident, with villagers demanding permanent mitigation measures and accountability from the Forest Department.

Sanjay Gubbi, senior scientist and conservationist, said addressing root causes such as habitat fragmentation and land-use changes is essential for reducing conflict. The Karnataka Forest Department has acknowledged the rising threat and is reviewing its monitoring and early-warning systems. The state government is expected to convene an inter-departmental meeting by mid-May 2026 to assess mitigation strategies and compensation protocols.