Forest department clears elephant proof trenches to prevent man-animal conflict during summer

With summer setting in, increasing the possibility of elephants coming out of forest into human habitations in search of fodder and water, the forest department has started clearing elephant proof trenches in the district.The forest department has completed desilting of trenches and removal of bushes along forest boundary in Madukkarai, P N Palayam and Thadagam areas under Project Kaliru, an initiative to mitigate human-elephant conflict.

“Trenches in other places will be cleared by March end,’’ said district forest officer N Satheesh.Elephant proof trenches (EPT) have been dug for a cumulative length of 153km in seven forest ranges of the district to ensure that elephants from the forests do not enter human habitations and agricultural land adjoining the jungles.

Over a period, especially during the monsoon, silt would deposit in these trenches decreasing their depth.

Shrubs would also grow in these trenches requiring periodical clearance.

Villagers living along the forest boundary have welcomed the desilting of trenches.

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