Methods to control/scare the elephants
Q. Which of the following is/are true?
1) Chilli paste-coated ropes are being used in Kerala to rein in prowling wild elephants.
2) Elephants can train themselves and find ways to bypass electric fencing.- Published on 30 Aug 16a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: Both 1 and 2
- Chilli paste-coated ropes are being tried in Kerala to rein in prowling wild elephants.
- Moving away from the traditional methods of scaring away elephants by bursting firecrackers and making loud noises, wildlife researchers are trying coir ropes coated with a paste of chilli powder and used engine oil to control the crop-raiding animals.
- Elephants, one of the most intelligent animal species, get easily accustomed to the traditional techniques used to deter them from farmlands and human habitations, such as noise-making devices, trip-wire activated alarms, and non-lethal electric fencing.
- They invent ways to overcome such hurdles like destroying the electric fence by pulling trees over them and snapping the safe portions of electric lines.
- For deterring elephants from human settlements, continuous practice of any single method is not advisable, but a combination of methods may be practised.
