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Right: Valparai- Kalyan Varma
Dealing with human-elephant conflict on the Valparai plateau
Our long-term research identifies the need for a strong ‘information network’ to communicate about elephant presence and their move- ments to people as the accidental encounter is the main reason for loss of human life due to elephants. Secondly, to develop a positive attitude in local communities. Finally, to encourage community par- ticipation to prevent fatal encounters with elephants.
A. Implementation of early warning systems
The Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and plantation companies has estab- lished Elephant Information Network (EIN) and deployed early warn- ing systems to mitigate human-elephant conflict. These systems are simple, adaptive, and participative to help increase safety for people and elephants and instil a sense of responsibility in the local com- munities for the positive management of human-elephant conflict. Our study focused on proactive conflict mitigating measures based on long-term scientific understanding of the needs of elephants and people, involving local communities to promote human-elephant coexistence in the Anamalais. The following steps have been imple- mented in this regard.
1. Use of Television network: Elephant locations received from daily tracking, informants from local communities, and Rapid Response Teams of the forest department is displayed as a ‘text crawl or tick- er’ on a local cable TV channel every day to reach out to people as an early intimation. Currently, the cable channel reaches nearly 5,000 families on the Valparai plateau.
2. SMS service: Since 2011, bulk SMS service has been implemented to send out text messages alerts about elephant presence and their movements to peoples’ mobile phones on a daily basis. An average of 2000 text messages/day is being sent in English and Tamil to people who reside within 2 km radius from daily elephant locations, cover- ing 4500 families. These timely alerts helped subscribers to spread elephant presence as both protagonists are interconnected strong- ly over resources.” alerts to others in their locality and encouraged people to take adequate precautions to avoid direct encounters with elephants and safeguard their property.
3. Installation of GSM-based alert beacons: Mobile operated LED-light alert beacons were installed in 35 strategic locations in plantations to signal the presence of elephants.
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