Mysuru: After trying elephant ditches, solar fences, railroad barricades and solar hanging barricades, the State Forest Department arranged to test ‘solar-powered rope barricades’ to prevent elephants from entering the human residence and robbed plants.
The department will conduct pilot experiments in Maladeshwara Hills Mildlife Sancria in the Chamarajanagar district, which has one of the highest elephant populations in the state.
Elephant movements along the Cauvery River in Kudus often occur when elephants are sure of animal feed and water along the basis of the river throughout the year.
But for years, various projects including mini-hydel projects have emerged around river beds, and elephants were forced to move from their habitat to the nearest farm and human residence which resulted in human-elephant conflicts.
Foresters has decided to install a solar-powered rope barricade system that will have an anchor post made from concrete pillars every 250 meters with seven galvanized steel spacers with insulators and specially designed 14mm Rope Rope obstacles secured with Bulldog clamps.
The fence will also be attached to the hanging fence.
Multiple lines with solar power connections will be able to prevent wild animals from the forest.
Sanctuary DCF V Yedukondalu told TII that this initiative would be the first of its kind in the state.
“We have sent a detailed project report (DPR) to PCCF to take a fence on a stretch of 16 km along the forest boundary.
The 7km fence at the Hanur range and a fence 9 km in PG Paly will be taken soon.
We are waiting for funds to be released,” he said.
Yedukondalu said the rope barricade would have a larger 14 mm cable like on a 2mm cable in an ordinary solar fence.
“It will be a double protection.
It will be more effective than train barricades.
One kilometer barricade railroad Rs 1.7 crore, but we have seen elephants across the train barike.
But the barikade rope costs around Rs 50 Lakh and is effective in preventing the elephant from crossing Barrikade, “he said.
Basavaraju Goluru Wildlife Activists told TI that the elephant corridor encroachment was also the cause of the human-elephant conflict.
“Foresters must take initiatives such as forest boundary fences to prevent conflict,” he said.
Gundlupet Farmer Mahadevappa told TOI that regular attacks by elephants and destroy plants have farmers who are worried.
“There should be some permanent solutions to protect farmers from wild animals including elephants,” he said.