27-04-2025
Forest dept installs 7 more early warning systems to mitigate human-elephant conflict in Himachal's Paonta Sahib
Aiming to reduce the human-elephant conflict, Himachal Pradesh Forest and Wildlife Department Saturday installed early warning systems at seven locations in Majra and Girinagar forest ranges of Paonta Sahib Forest Division. The move, under Phase II of Project Elephant, comes following the success of four previously installed solar-powered Animal Intrusion Detection and Repellent Systems (Aniders) in the same forest range.
The new warning systems have been installed across the forest beats of Beharwala, Sainwala, Johron, Dholakuan, Satiwala, Batamandi, Dunga, Khararu, and Beas — areas where elephant raids on agricultural lands and villages are routine.
Paonta Sahib has witnessed crop and property damage and deaths of two people due to elephant attacks in the past one and a half years. Paonta Sahib remains the only elephant-human conflict zone in Himachal Pradesh, due to its proximity to Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand, and Kalesar National Park at Yamunanagar in Haryana. The area also hosts Simbalbara National Park. According to the Forest Department, at least two herds of Asiatic elephants regularly migrate between Uttarakhand and Haryana via Paonta Sahib.
'Seven new early warning systems have been installed at identified human-elephant conflict hotspots along the forest-farm interface. Aniders were first introduced in Himachal Pradesh in July last year under the Project Elephant & Tiger scheme, yielding positive outcomes in Dhaulakuan, Fandi Koti, and Satiwala. Hence, Phase II was initiated,' a senior forest officer told The Indian Express.
Aniders use flashing lights and sharp alarms triggered by approaching animals, effectively deterring wildlife incursions. Since last year, 11 Aniders have been installed, mainly to control elephant movement, and at two sites (Paonta and Girinagar), they are also being used to manage leopard conflicts.
'A resident population of 14–16 elephants has now settled within the Paonta Sahib Forest Division over the past few years,' sources said.
Raghu Sahai, a farmer from Sainwala, said, 'The incursion of elephants has increased over the last two to three years. Though we cannot stop an elephant's movement, we can divert it. The system installed by the forest department has been highly beneficial in protecting our crops.'
Paonta Sahib Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ashwarya Raj said, 'The similarity in topography and the abundance of Sal trees in Rajaji National Park, Kalesar National Park, and Simbalbara National Park attract Asiatic elephants. Paonta Sahib serves as a corridor between Uttarakhand and Haryana. Aniders are proving very beneficial for local farmers, shepherds, and nomadic communities.'
'Apart from installation of Aniders, training and awareness programmes are being conducted in Behral and Majra blocks — key elephant entry points — educating locals on managing any conflict using beehive fences, and sound deterrents. A watchtower has also been set up in Behral for elephant monitoring and as a summer forest fire lookout,' DFO Ashwarya Raj adds.
Community WhatsApp groups called 'Gaj Ghoshna' have been formed in Majra and Girinagar ranges to coordinate information sharing among villagers, forest staff, and Gaj Mitras (volunteer elephant guardians from local communities). Cost-effective apiary (beekeeping) initiatives are also being promoted to generate supplementary income for farmers and improve crop yields through pollination. Farmers are being trained to install beehive fences and use dummy bee boxes and simulated buzzing sounds to deter elephants from entering croplands.
In March last year, a 45-year old shepherd Tapinder Singh of Shellai was killed in an elephant attack at Majra forest in Paonta Sahib. In April, 2023, an elderly woman lost her life in an elephant attack at Kolar Panchayat in Paonta Sahib.
