First Operation Kumki in A.P. successful: Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan 

Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan stated that the first Operation Kumki aimed at the driving away rogue elephants into the forests by trained ones has been successfully conducted in Bangarupalyam Mandal of Chittoor district. 

The next such drive against elephants destroying crops and endangering human lives will be organised in the Punganur forest, he said.

In a press release on Tuesday, Mr. Kalyan, who is also the Minister for Forests, said a herd of elephants that were on the rampage around Bangarupalyam were diverted into the wild by trained elephants sourced from Karnataka. 

He complimented the officials and staff concerned in the Forest Department for accomplishing the task of reining in a group of elephants that were destroying mango orchards near Mogili village in Bangarupalyam Mandal. 

Trained elephants Krishna, Jayanth, and Vinayak blocked the wild elephants from heading towards the crops, and guided them back into the forests.

The operation lasted from Saturday (August 2) night till Sunday morning. A two – month training was given to the elephants brought in from Karnataka. 

Mr. Kalyan said Operation Kumki was made possible by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and that he was thankful to Karnataka CM Siddharamaiah and Forest and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre for their cooperation.