Vaterira Kariappa, serving as Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) in the Madikeri Wildlife Division, has been promoted to Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) and posted to the Elephant Task Force in Kodagu district.
A resident of Madikeri, Kariappa had previously served outside the district. Recognised as an efficient officer, a request for his transfer to Kodagu had been submitted to the government in 2024 by Virajpet MLA and Legal Advisor to the Chief Minister, A.S. Ponnanna. Madikeri MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda had also supported the recommendation.
Following his appointment as head of the Madikeri Wildlife Division, irregularities came to light involving payments worth crores of rupees made between 2020 and 2023 in the TalakaveriWildlife Division without execution of corresponding work.
Kariappa subsequently revived the tender process, stalled since 2020 – by reintroducing newspaper notifications and enhancing transparency within the Forest Department.
