Hanging solar fence to check jumbo menace

The Forest Department on an experimental basis has installed solar-powered hanging fence to check elephant menace in human habitations, particularly on the fringes of the forest, in Kodagu district.

The elephants have been sneaking into the human habitations in Siddapura and surrounding villages and are damaging the crops.

The farmers have lost arecanut, banana and coffee plantations due to the elephant menace.

In the last 10 years, 80 persons have lost their lives in Kodagu district following elephant attacks.

The hanging solar fences have been installed on Devamacchi forest limits. Around 20 poles have been installed on the fringes of the forest, where the wires hang from a pole, said Forest Department officials.

“As the wires sway gently in the wind, it makes it difficult for the elephants to get through without receiving a shock. The wires are 15-ft long and are solar-powered,” officials added.

The hanging solar fences are popular in Sri Lanka.

They have been installed in Kodagu on a pilot basis. The hanging fence, however, will only check elephants from entering the human habitations. Small animals can easily pass through as the wires hang five-feet above the ground.

The Forest Department in the past had used a normal solar fence, rail track fence and others to check elephants from entering the villages but failed in their attempts.