With many of the crop raiding animals being females with young, this will also provide a significant barrier to the young. Breaches in the barrier will provide focal points for communities and park rangers to deter elephants trying to crop raid. Future additions to the barrier may include electric fencing, capsicum and sound trip wires as well as ranger watch towers. All the work will be carried out through manual labor as machines are not available or affordable. The communities have already started digging the trench and their commitment to the project is shown by the local farmers digging one day per week ñ as voluntary work. In order to hasten the completion of the trench it will be necessary to employ additional teams of laborers working across the parishes. This will have the added benefit of creating local employment and an alternative income stream for the communities.

Back