Testing novel, innovative and cost effective methods for mitigating elephant – human conflict

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In the first phase of testing novel, innovative and cost-effective methods for mitigating elephant-human conflict, the centre erected a solar powered electric fence on forest land around the village of Ramballi, a small enclave settlement within the Wynad Sanctuary. A key feature of this study is that the fence has been erected and maintained by the inhabitants of this village. Furthermore parameters such as daily fluctuation in voltage along the fence, break-ins by wild animals and community effort in maintaining and monitoring the fence and guarding crop fields are being measured daily with local participation.

Chilli-based repellents have shown promise as deterrents against crop-raiding elephants in Africa. ANCF experimented with ropes coated with chilli-based repellent as a cheap alternative to existing elephant crop raid deterrent methods in India. Three locations (Buxa Tiger Reserve, Wyanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Hosur Forest Division) representing varying rainfall regimes from high to low, and with histories of intense elephant– agriculture conflict, were selected for the experiments . The Chilli fence mechanism was found to be effective in deterring elephants. This is a simple and cost effective method that could be easily used by farmers.