Community deploys 'invisible' defense to protect neighborhoods and wild animals — here's how it works
With many settlements nestled into remote locations, some communities in India have been noted for their vulnerability to animal attacks. In an effort to protect both humans and wildlife, one town in Southern India has deployed an interesting solution.
In Valparai, Tamil Nadu, authorities with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department have constructed an "invisible" solar-powered fencing system designed to alert residents of approaching animals.
As reported by Mongabay, the 700 individual posts composing the system are solar-powered to help enable dependable operations in an area where electricity can otherwise be inconsistent. Each post is also equipped with sensors that can trigger an alarm and flashing lights any time an animal passes by. Once alerted, nearby residents can steer clear and avoid any encounters with wildlife.
The Valparai plateau includes portions of rainforest as well as tea estates, which dot the Western Ghats mountain range and contribute to richly biodiverse ecosystems. Valparai is home to scores of animals, such as leopards, wild cattle, and especially elephants, according to Mongabay.
Throughout India, elephants have been known to be involved in hundreds of lethal interactions with humans every year. According to a press release from the Indian government, more than 600 people were killed by elephants in India between 2023 and 2024 — a rate much higher than deaths caused by tigers in the same area and timespan.
In the state of Tamil Nadu alone, 256 people have reportedly been killed by elephants since 2019. With women sometimes overrepresented in gendered labor roles on tea estates that may abut elephant habitats and crossings, they can feel more vulnerable to these dangerous situations. According to the Times of India, seven women working in an Indian tea garden were injured by a wild elephant earlier this year.
Mongabay has reported some issues with the fencing system that could be addressed, such as posts that no longer work, some purportedly damaged by elephants. "The system also alerts when humans cross the posts … making it unclear if there's truly a risk from wildlife outside," according to the outlet.
By implementing and improving the "invisible" fence in Valparai, workers and all residents should have a greater ability to distance themselves from active elephants while also keeping the animals safe and free to roam.
Elephants play a crucial role in Indian culture and in ecosystems throughout the country. The animals help control grassland and forest habitats. As they are an endangered species, keeping elephants out of deadly incidents can go a long way in supporting critical conservation efforts.
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