<p>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. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The elephants have been sneaking into the human habitations in Siddapura and surrounding villages and are damaging the crops.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The farmers have lost arecanut, banana and coffee plantations due to the elephant menace.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In the last 10 years, 80 persons have lost their lives in Kodagu district following elephant attacks.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The hanging solar fences are popular in Sri Lanka.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>
<p>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. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The elephants have been sneaking into the human habitations in Siddapura and surrounding villages and are damaging the crops.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The farmers have lost arecanut, banana and coffee plantations due to the elephant menace.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In the last 10 years, 80 persons have lost their lives in Kodagu district following elephant attacks.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The hanging solar fences are popular in Sri Lanka.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>