mrz
28-12-03, 02:50
Organic repellant to drive away elephants
Press Trust of India
Bangalore, December 27
A joint study by a team of American and Indian researchers to test a new organic repellant designed to keep elephants away from crops concluded at a village in Kerala this month.
The pilot study at Rampalli village in Kerala's Wyanad district used Ketones, released by bull elephants during "musth" or mating season, which were filled in perforated steel rollers and laid on the elephant path.
"It (research) is at a very early stage. We have to study the records," Asian Elephant Research and Conservation Centre (AERCC) Director R Sukumar said.
He said the experiment with steel rollers may be effective in a short farm, but may be prohibitive in costs over a large area.
The steel rollers has been designed by Arkansas-based Riddle's Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary and the repellent developed by Oregon-based renowned biochemist Dr LEL 'Bets' Rasmussen, who were in the village during the experiment, alongwith AERCC researcher Madhusudhan Annadana.
Sukumar, who is a professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), said his team of researchers since two years had involved Rampalli villagers for electric fencing to keep elephants away from their crops, with a relative success.
He said elephants were sensitive to smells, and the ketones were effective in driving away other bulls during the mating season. India has about 45,000 elephants.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_510170,00040007.htm
Phew? :watte?: (ouch?)
Press Trust of India
Bangalore, December 27
A joint study by a team of American and Indian researchers to test a new organic repellant designed to keep elephants away from crops concluded at a village in Kerala this month.
The pilot study at Rampalli village in Kerala's Wyanad district used Ketones, released by bull elephants during "musth" or mating season, which were filled in perforated steel rollers and laid on the elephant path.
"It (research) is at a very early stage. We have to study the records," Asian Elephant Research and Conservation Centre (AERCC) Director R Sukumar said.
He said the experiment with steel rollers may be effective in a short farm, but may be prohibitive in costs over a large area.
The steel rollers has been designed by Arkansas-based Riddle's Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary and the repellent developed by Oregon-based renowned biochemist Dr LEL 'Bets' Rasmussen, who were in the village during the experiment, alongwith AERCC researcher Madhusudhan Annadana.
Sukumar, who is a professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), said his team of researchers since two years had involved Rampalli villagers for electric fencing to keep elephants away from their crops, with a relative success.
He said elephants were sensitive to smells, and the ketones were effective in driving away other bulls during the mating season. India has about 45,000 elephants.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_510170,00040007.htm
Phew? :watte?: (ouch?)