Novel electric fence model tested in Anuradhapura District
Novel electric fence model tested in Anuradhapura District
Daily News
October 22, 2021
See link
https://www.dailynews.lk/2021/10/22/local/262556/novel-electric-fence-model-tested-anuradhapura-district
for photo.
The construction of the first village and paddy field electric fence in
Anuradhapura District was inaugurated in the Marakulama village situated in
Thirappane Divisional Secretariat Division, with the participation of Solar
Power, Wind and Hydro Power Generation Development State Minister Duminda
Dissanayake, recently.
The Sri Lanka Conservation and Research Centre, a reputed N.G.O. headed by
famous environmental scientist Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando financed the pilot
electric fence project with the fullest cooperation of Marakulama
villagers, who so often face the wild elephants threat.
Inaugurating the five km Pilot Electric Fence Construction Project the
State Minister Duminda Dissanayake said that the Wild Elephants
Conservation and Research Centre invested Rs. 2.5 million for the
completion of the new paddy filed and village electric fence, which is
going to be a turning point in Anuradhapura District, where the human -
elephant conflict(HEC) remains at its climax at present.
"This is a entirely a novel experience for us, who so far have been
depending on length electric fence systems proceeding for hundreds of
kilometers, sometimes costing millions. I am arranging to provide
electricity to the emerging fence through solar panel systems to ensure a
full day power supply."
Once this pilot paddy field and village electric fence is completed and
depending on its success, we are going to extend this new electric fence
system from the affected village to other villages, which is less expensive
and very easy to maintain.
Hereafter, you need not blame or criticize the government or the wildlife
conservation official over the HEC issues.
It is your responsibility to look after and maintain the mini electric
fence as if it is your own property. I am sure that this test village and
paddy field electric fence will protect the villagers, their farmlands and
also the elephants are assured freedom and liberty to live outside the
fence, the state minister emphasized.
Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando the head of the Conservation and Research Centre,
who acted as the chair person of the recently appointed Presidential
Committee for submitting proposals and recommendations for the mitigation
of HEC said that his institute had a 30 years history in conducting
researches and studies on the life style of the elephants and the
human-elephant conflict.
We have understood through the long practical experiences that there shall
be an alternative strategies rather than the traditional and customary
mitigating mechanisms for thwarting the HEC.
The Wildlife Conservation Department has been thriving, attempting and
endeavoring for nearly 70 years to limit the wild elephants in to
reservation areas in vain.
The elephant driving operations have been instrumental to worsen the
conflict. At present there are elephants living in 62% of the country's
total landscape.
Also in 70% of this landscape, the elephants are living with the humans.
Our concept is to not to protect the reservation but the village the
cultivations properties etc belonging to the inmates.
The only viable option for elephant conservation and the human elephant
conflict mitigation is a human-elephant coexistence model with the
management of elephants in and outside protected areas was also advocated
by the national policy for conservation and management of wild elephants
Dr. Prithiviraj commented further.