Malaysia: Fencing off elephants

T.N. Alagesh New Straits Times 11 Jan 12;
Relief for villagers as RM2.5m is spent on electric fences to stop animal encroachments

KUANTAN: REPORTS of elephants terrorising settlements and destroying crops in Pahang will soon be a thing of the past.
A series of reports on elephants encroaching human settlements has prompted the state Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) to set aside RM2.5 million to build electric fences along the Kemasul, Som and Lesong forest reserves in Temerloh, Jerantut and Rompin respectively.

While the Kemasul project was completed in October last year, the other two would be ready by the end of next year, said state Perhilitan director Khairiah Mohd Shariff.

Khairiah added that the 7.2km-long fence constructed at Kemasul forest reserve at a cost of RM300,000 had brought relief to the more than 5,000 villagers in seven areas there.

The project had prevented elephants, as well as other animals like wild boars and tigers, from destroying their rubber and oil palm trees.

"The Kemasul forest reserve is home to between 20 and 25 elephants and with the fence, the elephants no longer stray into the villages for food.

"Villagers don't have to worry about crossing paths with the animals again," she told the New Straits Times.

The RM1.75 million Lesong project, meanwhile, would help prevent about 25 elephants in the jungle from wondering into nearby villages, including the Orang Asli settlements.

She said the 35km project would stretch over 17 villages, including Kampung Kurnia, Keladan, Setajam and Pianggu, while the Som fence project would be built at a cost of RM400,000.

The electric fence projects was the best solution to put a stop to elephant attacks and related problems faced by villagers, who normally used loud hailers and burned firecrackers to frighten the animals.

"The battery for the fences has to be re-charged using solar panels," she said, adding that Perhilitan provides spare batteries.

Khairiah also said the solar-powered fences would only provide light electric waves that would not kill or threaten the animals.

"We also placed signboards to notify villagers of the presence of the electric fences."

She urged private companies to install electric fences at their respective plantations to help safeguard their crops from wild animals.