The Forest Department in Gujarat is finding out new ways to curb the growing menace of man-animal conflict. A Vadodara-based company has now suggested a solar powered animal management system to control this threat.

The company manufactures solar powered electric fencing. Whenever an animal tries to intrude, the fencing gives a short, sharp but safe shock. The added advantage is that this can be used even in areas without electricity supply.

Leopard attacks and the blue bull menace have been haunting people living in the villages. The Forest Department has been struggling to save the agricultural lands from this menace even after setting up wire fencing and sterilising the blue bulls. The solar powered fencing seems to be a good option, as it requires no maintenance and the wires can be laid down for several kilometres at a stretch.

“It is a good option. We have been encouraging farmers to go for the solar- powered fences. Nirpal village in Rapar taluka in Kutch has already implemented this. We are thinking of covering some forest areas so that man-animal conflict is minimised,” said Rajeev Khanna, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF).

The Voice and Vision Tech Ltd (VVTL) is in now talks with the Forest Department to cover those zones and areas where instances of man-animal conflict are quite high. VVTL has a strategic tie-up with the Hyderabad-based Crown Solar Fencing Systems (CSFS) to market this product.

K Chandrashekhar, the CEO of CSFS said the best part about the solar fencing is that it is not fatal. “It gives a solid jerk to the animal, but is not fatal. The flow of current is just for 0.03 milliseconds,” he said.

CSFS owns about 35 per cent of the market for solar-powered electric fencing in India. “The market potential is huge. At present, the market for the fencing is only 1 per cent and there is a huge opportunity,” said Chandrashekhar.

The company has set up solar fencing over a 400-km area, including the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and the cricket stadium. “We have successfully installed it at both places and it is doing well,” he added.

Several cases of man-animal conflict have been reported from various parts of Gujarat. In the last two years, about 10 cases of leopard attacks have been reported in Vadodara only, which resulted in one death. In south Gujarat, around fifteen cases have been reported.