The Taraythang experience of resolving Titan’s war.

The southern fringe of the Country is most prone and vulnerable region when it comes to Jumbo’s rampage of farmers’ field. It is not realistic to blame the marauders alone but the anthropologist action of the greediest of the species – the human being ourselves. Least concerned about other species existent on earth, our selfish actions have invited such unknown conflicts. In our quest to meet our increasing needs, we trespass into other’s territory.

"when such belonging of the wild animals are offset by resettlement & human interferences, the conflict is only to be expected"

 

The ensuing human – giant conflicts can be attributed to the fact that most of the southern belt of Bhutan is resettled land which served as migratory route of elephants & other wild animals. However, when such belonging of the wild animals are offset by resettlement & human interferences, the conflict is only to be expected. Human being has least regard and understanding of the elephants, rather when confronted, they retaliate without giving second thought to their life. 

Hence, this resulted in huge gap between the elephants & the human beings in sharing the common resources (food, water & shelters). To bring common consensus, mass awareness on conservation education by the concerned Department especially on basic ecology & ethology of the elephants & human being along the Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) prone Dzongkhag would help.

"...to curb down the implication of HEC in the Dzongkhags where HEC is more brutal"

Today government is investing enormous resources to curb down the implication of HEC in the Dzongkhags where HEC is more brutal. Study and research to comprehensively understand the root of the problem would come handy when it come working towards curbing taking into consideration the farmers’ traditional knowledge. Procuring of devices by keeping in mind the geomorphology & topographical aspects of the country is also another important tips to cost-cut the investments. This will help harness effective results.

 

Since 2008, Royal Manas National Park supported 3.50km length of solar fencing Taraythang geog under Sarpang Dzongkhag with focus in three Chewogs (Trashicholing, Woozergang & Pemacholing). The immediate benefit of the technology was that farmers could harvest quite a good quantity of cereal crops from their respective cultivated lands except for few random exceptional cases which cannot be overruled.

 

The weather conditions played a role when sometime due to continued downpour; batteries of the solar fencing could not charge enough allowing elephants to make unexpected raids. To cover up such loopholes, supply of fully charged solar batteries was one viable option. 

"However, from Taraythang experience of last two years as the pilot gewog, the solar fencing has been found to be effective model of resolving the conflicts"

However, when compared with other devices like sound & light fencing; solar fencing has better edge when it comes to keeping away elephants from the field. This can be partly because elephants are more susceptible to shock by the electricity. However, from Taraythang experience of last two years as the pilot gewog, the solar fencing has been found to be effective model of resolving the conflicts with least adverse impacts to both parties.