Soon, chilli-coated rope fences will be installed extensively to deter crop-raiding elephants from entering villages lying close to the forests, especially in divisions under the Aanamudi elephant range.
“Under the cost-effective tool, a long jute or cotton rope will be immersed in a solution of chilli, tobacco and engine oil which will then be erected in the ‘entry passes’. Chilli has been found to be an irritant to the elephants in studies held by the Indian Institute of Science and Asian Nature Conservation Foundation,” said Raja Raja Varma, principal chief forest conservator of forests.
“The Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) has conducted studies and tested the chilli fence method on an experimental basis in the Silent Valley. It was found to be effective, especially against female herds which target plantations. Now we’ll be using the tool in divisions like Chalakudy and Malayatoor,” Nagaraj B.N., divisional forest officer, said.
“However, if it rains the chilli mix will get easily washed out,” Mr Varma said, adding states like Maharashtra had already started implementing the method.
The cost of the chilli rope works out to around `12,000 per km as against the electric fencing (`1,50,000/ km and trenches (`1,00,000/km). Wild elephants have killed at least 20 persons in the state in the last five years.
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Cameron: Very sad if India boycotts Olympics
New Delhi, March 11: British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he would be “very sad” if India boycotted the London Olympics following the row over sponsorship of the event by Dow Chemicals, linked to the Bhopal Gas tragedy of 1984. However, Mr Cameron dubbed Dow Chemicals as a “reputable company” and said he did not want to see the Olympics used for industrial or political purposes.
“It would be a very sad day,” he told Karan Thapar on Devil’s Advocate programme on CNN-IBN when asked about a possible boycott by India of the London Olympics. Mr Cameron said he felt “huge sympathy” for those injured and killed in the Bhopal gas disaster.
— PTI