<p>Solar power has brought hope for residents in at least 12 villages in Assam’s Udalguri district, who are struggling to reduce conflicts with wild elephants. </p>.<p>An 18-km solar powered fence has been installed at Nagrijuli area by Aaranyak, a biodiversity conservation group recently, which is likely to help over 15,000 villagers in their efforts to reduce conflict with the jumbos. Nagrijuli is one of the hotspots of human-elephant conflicts in Assam. </p>.<p>The solar-powered fences are fed by the power generated from solar sources, that includes solar panels, batteries and energisers. “These fences send sharp but non-lethal shock at regular intervals when an animal comes in contact with it. This acts as a psychological barrier for the intruding animals. The duration of the shock is 0.003 seconds,” Aaranyak said in a statement.</p>.<p>The fence has been installed by Aaranyak with the assistance of local community and Assam Forest Department. Elephant Family Foundation, India funded the project. </p>.<p>This comes at a time when Assam reported deaths of many wild elephants in electric wires, which are used by many residents as barriers against wild elephants. Man-elephant conflicts have become a big worry for residents in many villages including in Udalguri district. Such conflicts often lead to deaths (both human and jumbos) and destruction of houses and crops.</p>.<p>According to forest department, at least 100 elephants have died because of electrocution since 2011. </p>.<p>"The electric fences are lethal and lead to death of any animal or human being when they come in contact with it. The solar-powered electric fences, which are environment friendly and cost-effective, are now being used widely to reduce human-wildlife conflict across the country," Aaranyak said. </p>.<p>A 14-km fence was first erected from No. 1 Dongargaon to Arongajuli village and the second part of the fence of 4-km length was installed from Piplanee to Serchini village.</p>.<p>"Five units of solar-operated high-power fence machines were installed to run the fences. Nagrijuli was selected as the human-elephant conflict was negatively impacting the villagers for long," it said.</p>.<p>The solar-powered fence was formally handed over to the villagers on Friday (February 5) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with village committees for five years for maintenance and smooth conduct of the fence.</p>
<p>Solar power has brought hope for residents in at least 12 villages in Assam’s Udalguri district, who are struggling to reduce conflicts with wild elephants. </p>.<p>An 18-km solar powered fence has been installed at Nagrijuli area by Aaranyak, a biodiversity conservation group recently, which is likely to help over 15,000 villagers in their efforts to reduce conflict with the jumbos. Nagrijuli is one of the hotspots of human-elephant conflicts in Assam. </p>.<p>The solar-powered fences are fed by the power generated from solar sources, that includes solar panels, batteries and energisers. “These fences send sharp but non-lethal shock at regular intervals when an animal comes in contact with it. This acts as a psychological barrier for the intruding animals. The duration of the shock is 0.003 seconds,” Aaranyak said in a statement.</p>.<p>The fence has been installed by Aaranyak with the assistance of local community and Assam Forest Department. Elephant Family Foundation, India funded the project. </p>.<p>This comes at a time when Assam reported deaths of many wild elephants in electric wires, which are used by many residents as barriers against wild elephants. Man-elephant conflicts have become a big worry for residents in many villages including in Udalguri district. Such conflicts often lead to deaths (both human and jumbos) and destruction of houses and crops.</p>.<p>According to forest department, at least 100 elephants have died because of electrocution since 2011. </p>.<p>"The electric fences are lethal and lead to death of any animal or human being when they come in contact with it. The solar-powered electric fences, which are environment friendly and cost-effective, are now being used widely to reduce human-wildlife conflict across the country," Aaranyak said. </p>.<p>A 14-km fence was first erected from No. 1 Dongargaon to Arongajuli village and the second part of the fence of 4-km length was installed from Piplanee to Serchini village.</p>.<p>"Five units of solar-operated high-power fence machines were installed to run the fences. Nagrijuli was selected as the human-elephant conflict was negatively impacting the villagers for long," it said.</p>.<p>The solar-powered fence was formally handed over to the villagers on Friday (February 5) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with village committees for five years for maintenance and smooth conduct of the fence.</p>
