India: Electric fences are wreaking havoc in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, killing four tuskers in the last six months. Erected illegally on private estates, agricultural farms and resorts, these fences are being seen as the biggest threat to elephants in the Reserve that is home to almost 25% of the total Asian elephant population in the country. According to available records, electric fences kill more tuskers than poachers in Tamil Nadu. The first elephant electrocution in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the last six months was reported at a private resort in Bokkapuram in September 2014. The second tusker came in contact with an electric fence on an agricultural farm at Chokkanalli on January 4 this year and the third died on a garlic farm in Sholur on January 29. The last death was reported from Gudalur, again on an agricultural farm, on Friday.

All these fences had been drawing electricity illegally from connections meant for houses or sheds and in most cases, the officials concerned were aware they had been erected without permission. Owners of these estates have not been booked for the deaths. Equally responsible for the fences coming up are foresters, guards and watchers who patrol the forests, say naturalists. In January 2012, in response to a petition, Madras high court directed the secretary of the state environment and forests department to remove illegally erected fences, solar and electric, in the elephant corridor in Nilgiris. Subsequently, an appeal was preferred against this order in Supreme Court which dismissed it. Despite the high court order, farm owners and others continue to put up fences in the elephant corridor, say conservationists. (Source : The Times of India)