Even as State governments across the country are spending huge sums of money to keep crop-rampaging elephants at bay, over 300 farmers in Uttara Kannada are not only saving their crops, but protecting the lives of the pachyderms, by using native methods and spending only between Rs. 30 and Rs. 300.
This is all tanks to the elephant conservation project, initiated by Pune-based Wildlife Research and Conservation Society (WRCS), in Yellapur and Haliyal divisions, which has introduced the concept of community-based conflict management.
While it costs Rs. 30 to create chilli smoke and chilli rope techniques, it costs approximately Rs. 300 for the trip alarm and honeybee fencing system.
Devidas Srikant Kaitkar (32), who grows paddy and sugarcane on 15 acres of land in Tenginagari village, had been losing crops owing to the elephant menace till 2009. But, he is a happy farmer now. “I use the catapult cracker bomb and rotating fireball methods to drive away elephants,” he said.
Ganesh Bhat (58) of Balaguli village, who cultivates areca and plantain in 100 acres, uses the chilli smoke and chilli rope methods, while Raju Tikare (30) of Mundwad village uses the log hives and pot hives fencing methods.
“We are heaving a sigh of relief, as farmers themselves have taken up the responsibility of driving away elephants,” said Forester Ashok Srigavi. A sample study in the project area shows that 70 per cent of the farmers have benefitted from these methods.
“We only created awareness on organised guarding and early alert system,” said Prachi Mehta, principal investigator, WRCS.
The WRCS conducted experiments on forest camp elephants and zeroed in on the type of crop and protection methods. They trained farmers from over 40 villages.
“It is a challenging task, as elephants are quick learners and can overcome most physical barriers. Considering this aspect, there is a need to continue the task of finding new approaches,” Ms. Mehta explained. “The Forest Department could replicate these methods in other parts of the State,” she added.