Microchips to warn of elephant raids

Troubled by continuing human-animal conflicts that have claimed many lives on both sides in the Jawadhu hill range,the forest department and district administration of Tiruvannamalai plans to tag the matriarch of an elephant herd with a microchip to track the groups movement and warn the villagers. In recent months,five persons have been killed by elephants and three elephants have been electrocuted in the area thats part of the Eastern Ghats. The frequency of the conflict has gone up in the recent past,prompting authorities to consider monitoring the animals.

These animals have developed a special liking for paddy,sugarcane and jaggery,and have found that attacking the huts is the easiest way of finding food. Since it is difficult for the officials to physically monitor a herd,we have proposed tagging the animal with chips, said Tiruvannamalai Collector Dr M Rajendran.

The idea has been given the nod at the state-level and the final clearance will be given after a meeting in New Delhi this month.

The raiders are an eight-member strong herd,led by a matriarch,and a solitary male that moves independent of the herd,said officials. Once we attach the radio frequency tag on the leader,it will let us track the movement of the herd so that villagers can be warned and the personnel can take necessary steps to chase the animals away, he added. Once the proposal is approved,the officials plan to isolate the matriarch,tranquilise her and implant the chip. The implant,most probably on the ear,is a simple process. She will soon be returned to the herd.