Berhampur: Wildlife officials have proposed the installation of 24 additional solar-based early warning systems in sensitive locations within the Ghumusar north division of Ganjam district to mitigate the ongoing human-elephant conflict. This initiative follows the successful deployment of similar systems in 26 locations last year.
Details of the Proposed System
Himansu Sekhar Mohanty, divisional forest officer (Ghumusar north), stated, “We had installed the system in 26 locations last year. We have proposed the government for installation of 24 more such systems. The system will be installed before the harvesting season to mitigate conflict.”
Under this system, a solar-powered street light, along with a siren, is mounted on a pole at the outskirts of villages identified as vulnerable to human-elephant conflict. When elephants are detected in the area, the siren blares, immediately alerting the villagers to the presence of the animals.
Current Elephant Population and Conflict Zones
According to Mohanty, “At present, 80 elephants are housed in various places in the division.” The Ghumusar north division has experienced significant crop and property damage due to elephant attacks, particularly during the harvesting season. The ranges of Muzagarh, Jagannath Prasad, and Tarsingi have been identified as high-risk human-elephant conflict zones due to their proximity to the dense forest areas of Nayagarh, Baliguda, and Phulbani forest divisions.
The proposed expansion of the early warning system aims to provide timely alerts to communities living near these forested areas, thereby reducing potential losses and enhancing safety for both humans and elephants. The solar-based system is designed to be self-sustaining and environmentally friendly, requiring minimal maintenance.
This proactive measure underscores the commitment of wildlife authorities to address the growing conflict through technological innovation and community engagement.
