With animal-human conflict in fringe villages continue to claim lives, both of humans and elephants, in addition to extensive crop damage caused, the Talavadi Farmers Association has called for the proper setting up of, and maintenance of elephant-proof trenches (EPTs), streamlining of the compensation process for crop loss claims and scientific training for Anti-Depredation Squads (ADS) to effectively drive elephants away from farmlands.
The State government had constituted a Farmer-Wildlife Conflict Resolution Committee to suggest measures to ensure the sustainable co-existence of farmers and wildlife in wildlife-dominated landscapes and ensure the safety of both farmers and wildlife. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Chennai, is the chairman of the committee, which has representative s of six farmers associations as part of it. The committee is meant to submit its recommendations within three months to the State government. The Talavadi Vivasaigal Sangam is one of the members of the committee, and its president S. Kannaiyan took part in the first meeting held in Chennai recently and submitted a letter comprising various recommendations to reduce negative human-animal interactions.
Mr. Kannaiyan said human-elephant conflict was a major problem in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) and over 50% of negative interactions had taken place in the forest ranges of Talavadi and Jerahalli. The absence of EPTs and poor maintenance was a concern, he said, and wanted the Forest Department to maintain the trenches and also establish new ones across 3.5 km in the Jerahalli range.
