Forest Department finds Valparais sensible digital fencing system efficient

The sensible digital fencing system launched by the Forest Department at two forest ranges of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) within the Valparai plateau final yr has confirmed efficient, leading to higher coexistence of people and elephants.

D. Venkatesh, Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director of ATR, mentioned no main incidents of human – elephant conflicts occurred in locations the place the sensible digital fencing system was launched underneath the Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiatives (TANII), up to now yr.

The system contains solar-powered infrared units mounted on poles, which generate alarm by detecting motion of elephants. People are suggested to stay of their residences when a tool triggers an alarm because it signifies the presence of a wild elephant close by. Of the 1,300 units put in by the Department, 600 are in Manambolly forest vary and 700 in Valparai vary.

“The units had been put in at locations the place incidents of human – elephant conflicts occurred earlier than. These areas should not witnessing conflicts after the system’s introduction. This will be replicated elsewhere the place incidents of conflicts between people and elephants are excessive,” mentioned Mr. Venkatesh.

Three individuals died in elephant assaults after the introduction of the sensible digital fencing system. In two incidents, each reported in Manambolly vary, the victims had been conscious of the presence of elephants exterior their residence. They had deadly encounters with elephants after they got here out of their residences. The third demise was of a German vacationer, who had a deadly assault by an elephant when he tried to cross the animal in his motorbike at Tiger Valley close to Valparai, regardless of being warned by different motorists.

As elephants get habituated to the identical sort of alarms and warning lights, the units are designed to generate various mixtures of sounds and flickering of lights.

“The system detects the presence of elephants, however it doesn’t deter the animal. Hence, when individuals hear the alarm, they need to bear in mind that an elephant is within the neighborhood. They shouldn’t come out of their residences out of curiosity. They want to remain inside and be cautious as elephants often vacate the place after someday,” mentioned Ganesh Raghunathan, Senior Programme Manager with the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF).

He additionally identified that common upkeep of the solar-powered system, together with clearing algae from the panel, must be ensured to retain its effectivity and long-term functioning. Also, subject workers ought to proceed to create consciousness amongst residents and property staff concerning the terrain, its wildlife and the dos and don’ts, as new migrant staff hold coming for jobs in estates, he opined.

NCF is working its personal early warning system comprising SMS alerts, warning lights ,and alerts on native cable TV channels within the Valparai platueau for the previous a number of years.