Creating barriers for safety of elephants

BHUBANESWAR: Open dug-wells in human habitations, located close to forest ranges and elephant corridors, have emerged as a new threat for elephants in Odisha.With a spate of incidents of jumbos - mostly young ones - falling into these uncovered dug-wells being reported, the Wildlife Wing has asked the forest divisions to survey the points and create barriers so as to prevent the pachyderms from getting trapped.

So far, three divisions including Angul, Dhenkanal and Sambalpur have already submitted the locations and GPS coordinates of these open wells and funds have been earmarked for them.
Chief Wildlife Warden Sandeep Tripathy said, fresh instruction has been issued to the divisions for immediate survey so that these wells can either be buried or covered.

“We have certain scientific designs for such well-guards available with us for either covering the wells or creating the barriers. Divisions have been asked to make use of these designs,” Tripathy said.
As part of the instruction, three different approaches have been suggested. The divisions could bury the abandoned open wells whereas those in use could be covered with a T-shaped structure. The third suggestion involves a three and half feet structure to be kept around the wells so as to prevent the elephants from approaching the spot. “These structures act as a psychological barrier for jumbos and can stop their access,” said a senior officer of the Wildlife Wing.

So far, Dhenkanal has already provided GPS coordinates for 600 locations while Angul has furnished the details for over 1500 points. Sambalpur, too, has completed its ground work.For creation of these structures and covering the open wells, the Wildlife Wing has decided to tap funds from the CAMPA head. While allocations have already been made for Dhenkanal, Angul and Sambalpur, other divisions have been asked to carry out the survey and submit details so that funds can be placed.