KFD Elephant Kavadiga Recruitment 2026 — 57 Posts (Karnataka)

Karnataka Forest Department (KFD) has released five circle-wise notifications for Elephant Kavadiga (Ane Kavadiga) Recruitment 2026, Group 'D', covering the Kanara (Shirsi), Kodagu (Madikeri), Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Shivamoga forest circles, for a combined 57 vacancies — 51 fresh posts plus 6 backlog posts from an earlier 2022-23 cycle. Unlike most Karnataka govt jobs, this recruitment requires no formal educational qualification; instead, candidates must have genuine experience in elephant management and handling, along with residence in a notified forest area within Karnataka and working knowledge of Kannada. Selected Elephant Kavadigas will be responsible for the daily care, handling and management of elephants under KFD's forest circles, a specialised role central to Karnataka's wildlife and forest conservation efforts. Selection is based purely on an interview and performance assessment of Kannada language ability and practical elephant-handling skill, carrying a maximum of 100 marks — there is no written examination. Selected candidates are placed in the Group 'D' pay scale of ₹29,600 to ₹52,800 and must serve a minimum 2-year probation period. The KFD Elephant Kavadiga 2026 application window opens on 5 August 2026 and closes on 3 September 2026, up to 5:30 PM. Applications must be submitted offline by post or in person to the Conservator of Forests office of the relevant circle — there is no online application. No application fee is charged. Candidates must read the complete official circle-wise notification PDF carefully before applying, since each of the five circles has its own separate notification with circle-specific vacancy and category breakdowns.

• No specific educational qualification prescribed; the notification requires only a declaration of years of experience in elephant handling/management
• Experience in elephant management/handling mandatory
• Must be residing within a notified forest area under Karnataka Forest Department jurisdiction, within Karnataka state
• Working knowledge of Kannada mandatory

• General: Maximum 35 years
• Category-IIA/IIB/IIIA/IIIB and other Backward Classes: Maximum 38 years
• SC/ST/Category-I: Maximum 40 years
• Minimum 18 years as on 3 September 2026
• One-time additional 5-year relaxation for backlog recruitment candidates of all categories; Ex-servicemen get relaxation equal to years served plus 3 years

• No formal educational qualification prescribed; genuine experience in elephant management/handling is mandatory
• Must reside within a notified forest area under Karnataka Forest Department jurisdiction, within Karnataka state
• Working knowledge of Kannada mandatory
• Age 18 to 35/38/40 years depending on category, as on 3 September 2026
• Candidates already in Central/State Government or PSU service are not eligible to apply

• No application fee for any category

• Elephant Kavadiga (Group 'D'): Pay scale ₹29,600–52,800 (with intermediate increments), common across all five circles

1. Visit aranya.gov.in — the official Karnataka Forest Department website
2. Go to the "Nemakati" (Recruitment) section on the homepage
3. Download the prescribed application form for the Elephant Kavadiga post, specific to your chosen circle
4. Fill the application legibly in English (capital letters) or Kannada only, and affix a recent passport-size photograph
5. Superscribe the envelope as "Application for Elephant Kavadiga Post"
6. Send the application by post, or submit it in person, to the office of the Conservator of Forests for your chosen circle
7. Ensure the application reaches the office between 5 August 2026 and 3 September 2026, up to 5:30 PM
8. Carry original documents along with self-attested photocopies if called for interview/document verification