Electric fence poses serious threat against wild elephants

By Thai PBS

 

 

Electric fence installed by farmers to protect their farm crops from elephants has proven to be one of the biggest threats against the animals, having killed almost 10 of them in the past two years.

 

The death of a bull elephants in a para rubber plantation in Ban Khao Khong, Tambon Pawa of Kaeng Hang Maew district of Chanthaburi on Sept 17 and the death of another elephant one day afterward in Kanchanaburi province were attributable to electric shock from electric fence.

 

Farmers living in areas located near the habitats of the pachyderms used to resort to firecrackers or install barb-wired fence to protect their crops from hungry elephants looking for food, but with little success.  Hence, many of them turned to electric fence using electricity generated from a 12-volt car battery as the deterrent which does not work effectively because of the thick skin of the animals. Then, they turned to the 220-volt household electricity by attaching the household electric wire to the fence which has proven to be effective – and deadly too.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/electric-fence-poses-serious-threat-elephants/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-09-20

In Europe i've seen a young boy peeing against electric wire for cows and all he got was a shock.....

 

So why do the Thai need very high powered wires?

 

Bee's nests also work well against elephants...

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Hence, many of them turned to electric fence using electricity generated from a 12-volt car battery as the deterrent which does not work effectively because of the thick skin of the animals.

 

It is not the thick skin of elephants that is the root cause as they explore with their trucks which are more delicate. Lack of proper grounding is more likely the cause.

 

The didn't work for elephants because the local "animal" energizers are cheaply made and only really any good for cloven hoofed animals. Add to that the car battery power drops off after a while of use and they are almost useless. To be really effective the fence has to be maintained at a min of about 5.5 kV add to this that the farmers where probably not adding sufficient grounding. The results where ineffectiveness.  

Local farmers probably can't afford "real" energizers and correct installation methods so they so resort to the cheaper, "easier" method, even it is it extremely dangerous. 

 

Local wildlife dept. could offer classes and training on the correct use of electric fences but...

Edited September 20, 20178 yr by VocalNeal

50 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

 

It is not the thick skin of elephants that is the root cause as they explore with their trucks which are more delicate. Lack of proper grounding is more likely the cause.

 

The didn't work for elephants because the local "animal" energizers are cheaply made and only really any good for cloven hoofed animals. Add to that the car battery power drops off after a while of use and they are almost useless. To be really effective the fence has to be maintained at a min of about 5.5 kV add to this that the farmers where probably not adding sufficient grounding. The results where ineffectiveness.  

Local farmers probably can't afford "real" energizers and correct installation methods so they so resort to the cheaper, "easier" method, even it is it extremely dangerous. 

 

Local wildlife dept. could offer classes and training on the correct use of electric fences but...

Farmers were obviously unaware that grounding is a vital part of the system, as 'Vocal' says.

Set up a good fence and get the farmers to test it.  They'll soon learn, as will small boys and dogs!!