Various mitigation measures at a cost of ₹ 1.38 crore are being implemented by the Forest department under project Kaliru (Kaliru in Tamil means elephant) to reduce human-animal conflicts in Coimbatore, said S. Ramasubramanian, Conservator of Forests (Coimbatore Circle).
Aimed at mitigating human animal conflicts, project Kaliru is currently operational in 45 selected villages bordering forest areas in Coimbatore district.
“The mitigation measures can yield result only through the support of tribals, people in living close to forest peripheries, people's representatives, social workers, NGOs and media persons. Awareness programmes are being conducted for stakeholders in all the categories to handle human-animal conflicts effectively,” said Mr. Ramasubramanian at the sensitisation programme on Kaliru held for mediapersons at Chadivayal elephant camp on Monday.
He said that 78 out of 105 troughs in the forest peripheries have been renovated and water is filled in these storage places once in every week. This has helped to reduce the number of animals straying into human habitations in search of water.
While trenches separate a major length of forest boundaries from private land, the forest department is planning to set up thermal cameras for surveillance of animals at places lacking trenches. One of such thermal camera is currently operational on pilot basis at Marudhamalai which can cover upto two km. In the first phase of the project, a helpline number was introduced for mitigating human-elephant conflicts. In the second phase involved interaction with farmers on resolving human-animal conflict. Awareness programmes for students were held in the third phase of the project. The fourth stage of the project will have meetings of various stakeholders including the police, media persons, and other agencies.
