Coimbatore Farmers Question Steel Fences for Curbing Human-Wildlife Conflict

Speedy Summary

• A farmers’ association in Coimbatore has raised concerns over the efficacy of steel wire fences installed on select stretches in the Coimbatore Forest Division to mitigate human-animal conflict.
• Steel wire fences are planned along 10 km in Boluvampatti Forest Range (Thondamuthur) and Coimbatore Forest Range (Thadagam).
• ₹7 crore has been sanctioned by the Government for this fencing project.
• Skepticism centers around its utility, particularly at bottleneck points prone to wild animal intrusion, where steel wire is less effective compared to other types of barriers.
• Suggestions referencing karnataka’s Bannerghatta National Park include exploring more diverse physical barriers like railway line barriers alongside existing fencing methods such as solar-electric fences and spike gates.
• Decisions on steel wire fencing were previously suspended following a High court directive related to establishing elephant corridors.

Indian Opinion Analysis
Concerns raised by farmers highlight critically important gaps between infrastructure implementation and its practical effectiveness in addressing human-animal conflicts in sensitive regions such as Coimbatore’s forest fringes. While ₹7 crore funding underscores government commitment,it appears there might potentially be logistical shortcomings when deploying steel fencing alone-especially at chokepoints with frequent animal crossings. Lessons from Karnataka’s multi-pronged approach at Bannerghatta National Park suggest a need for innovation, especially with railway line barriers backed by extensive ministry studies under project Elephant.

The delay caused by legal interventions serves as a reminder of balancing development projects with conservation priorities such as facilitating elephant corridors, which play an essential ecological role. Further evaluation based on empirical data could ensure that allocated resources yield lasting protection for both human settlements and wildlife habitats.

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