Despite numerous discussions in the Parliament and national forums, the human-wildlife conflict is yet to be mitigated. The Deputy Chairperson of the National Council, MP Sonam Kinga, asked the agriculture minister about the strategies the government has put in place to deal with human-wildlife conflict during the NC’s ‘Question Time’ yesterday.
The Agriculture and Forests Minister, Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, said while the measures taken may not have kept wildlife completely away from crops, the extent of crop depredation has reduced. Of the mechanisms devised, Lyonpo said, the solar fencing has been most successful. “While electric fencing could be used, Bhutan Electricity Act deemed it illegal to pursue using electric power owing to high risk to people.”
Lyonpo also said alarm device has in some way failed to gain confidence of the farmers. He said the government installed alarm device as one of the measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. While the device was meant to alert people with the alarm, farmers misunderstood the device to a machine that will drive away the wildlife by its reverberation.
The agriculture ministry has planned to institute a community-based insurance program wherein initial financial support, for establishing any initiatives towards mitigating human-wildlife conflict, will be provided by the government.
