After electric fencing failed to keep one of the most intelligent animals at bay in what is considered elephants’ hotspot conflict zone, a time had come for a new technique.
The villagers of Tashichhoeling Gewog (previously known as Sipsu) in Samtse have now installed a sound alarm; an early warning system technique, to avoid human-elephant conflict.
As soon as any local see an elephant approaching, they will sound the siren which can be heard within five-kilometre radius of the siren station.
The siren is activated as soon as they call a number from a mobile phone.
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After the siren goes off, a quick response team, which already has been formed, will chase away the elephants.
The man behind the idea of early warning system is the National Coordinator of Elephant Conservation Programme, Sonam Wangdi.
He said since elephants are intelligent animals, they have learned, over the years, the techniques to avoid or damage electric fences.
Sonam Wangdi said the next effective method was to use an early warning system which is also cost effective.
Tashichhoeling keeps losing lives, crops, and properties to elephants, every year. Eleven people in the village have lost their lives between 2000-14.
“We barely harvest anything from our fields. Whatever we grow is lost to these animals every year,” said a farmer, Sarita Chettri.
Another farmer, Harka Maya Gurung said life is difficult in Tashichhoeling. “You have to constantly guard your field from wild animals and still have nothing in the end.”
As an intervention to bring down the conflict between human and wildlife, Tashichhoeling Gewog had become the first Gewog to receive an electric solar fencing from the government in early 2000.
However, the last of electric fencing which cost about Nu 3.6 M, stretching six kilometers was pulled down in 2014, given the lack of ownership.
“The electric fencing did not prove effective in keeping away the elephants. It was also difficult to maintain the fences which were quite long covering huge area of villages,” said a farmer, Indra Bahadur Chettri.
If the early warning system proves successful, the Elephant Conservation Program will replicate such technique in other parts of the country.
