The forest department in the Athmalik district of Odisha, India has begun construction of simple wooden or bamboo fences around abandoned wells to prevent elephants from falling into them.
Last year, the department reported that 41 elephants had fallen into wells since 2012, resulting in the deaths of five animals. In October 2017, a two-year-old elephant calf fell into one of these abandoned wells and died. Villagers only came across the calf after it had already been stuck there for 24 hours.
There are many elephants living in the forested areas in and around Athmalik. These animals often come into conflict with human settlements, damaging crops and houses. The abandoned wells pose a real threat, with the elephants unable to calculate their depth and becoming trapped or injured.
Creating fences around these old wells is a simple and low-cost process, only requiring the cost of labor.
“We have bamboo that are cut and pruned to allow further growth. So are the branches of other trees. We will mix both and raise a fence, four to five feet above the ground,” said Samyak Samantra, divisional forest officer for Athmalik.
Although the fences can be damaged by the elephants, they aren’t intended to create an indestructible barrier; they serve to catch the attention of the elephants and alert them that there is some kind of physical structure present, preventing them from stumbling haplessly into a hole.
With an estimated total of only 1841 elephants in Odisha, every life is precious. As with most wild places in the world, the biggest risk to elephants is poaching, with 188 animals in the state lost to this illegal trade between 1990 and 2004.
During that same period, there were 3425 recorded instances of human/elephant conflict, and elephants damaged 18,152.67 acres of crop land. Wildlife organizations and NGOs are attempting to mitigate the growing problems caused by the loss of animal corridors, migratory routes and habitat fragmentation through the use of elephant proof trenches, rubble walls and electric fences, along with public education during the high season for these events.
This simple initiative of bamboo fencing will help to prevent further injury and loss of precious lives, and is an important step forward in protecting the elephants of India.
THANK YOU for thoughtful, rational, compassionate thinking on behalf of Elephants — they NEED PROTECTIONS and it is US who MUST PROTECT them.
Great idea — it should give the Elephants a heads-up when there’s a dangerous obstacle and to back off — because the Elephant is at the mercy of humans, I strongly believe humans in India must do everything they can to make the lives of Elephants as comfortable as possible — REMEMBER, not only is this the home of Indians, it is also the home of these magnificent Elephants — after all, where are they to go? — can they be transferred to a secure location where they can continue to live normal, happy, healthy Elephant lives? — PLEASE do everything you can for them — they, like all of us, want to live — like us, they have every RIGHT to their lives — let’s help them.
Thank you for the difference this is making.
Yes, I agree with the comments about filling in the holes. Grateful for the fences in the meantime though. Very thankful they are trying to protect these amazing, delightful animals. We need to keep them safe.
Thank you to the helpers.
Great news!! Goog thing this fence!
Sometimes the simplest solution is the most effective one. More lives saved.
This is wonderful! I wish they would do this in India where there are many abandoned wells that animals fall in to.
“REDUNDANT/WITHOUT PURPOSE WELLS” …….”INTELLECT” BE “FILLED IN”
The ingenious mind of humanitarians making the world a safe and loving place. Bless you all and big hugs. Thank
Namaste?
The Galarneau family
Thanks for the efforts of the forest department of Odisha, India for building those fences to protect the elephants but if the wells are not being used, can’t the holes be filled? I hope this is just a temporary solution because Bamboo may seem strong but elephants are stronger. Still, I am very happy to see that at least people there are concerned with the lives of these majestic animals and I thank all of them for caring.
Please fill the holes. Nice the fences are there, but these holes need to be filled. A little baby elephant and any other smaller animal could accidentally run into the fence and fall into the holes.
Please just fill the holes and this fix would be permanent and fail safe! Bamboo versus elephant, not to sure!
I am all for helping animals, especially elephants which are having a particularly bad time at the moment, but why not just fill in these old abandon wells? As for elephants damaging crop land, my sympathies lie entirely with the Pachyderms. When will humans realise, that when you encroach on animals habitat and migratory routes, it will cause problems. Humans need to recognise that the world does not just belong to us, but to all creatures on earth. Until this is acknowledge and kindness and consideration towards other creatures is put first, instead of profit and selfish motives, I fear there will be many more instances of human / elephant / animal conflict.
Majestically spoken
Namaste??
Deb Galarneau
Thanks for your thhtsoug. It’s helped me a lot.
Thanks for the news but how does everything you talk of entitle you to ask money for it? You are not a working group that accomplishes these things. If i donate its to help animals not old news.
It’s always a relief when someone with obvious extsepire answers. Thanks!
Yes Leanne I am with you, man made wells and wild animals are not a good mix.
Thanku to the forest dept of Athmalik for erecting these structures around these dangerous abandoned wells. ??