Dong Nai (VNA) – A 50km long electric fence has been put intooperation on a trial basis to prevent wild elephants from wandering intoresidential areas in the southern province of Dong Nai, according to theprovincial Forest Protection Sub-Department.
The 2.2m high electric fence runs across Vinh Cuu district’s Ma Da and Phu Lycommunes and Dinh Quan district’s Thanh Son commune,.
Electricity is regularly switched on and off every one third of a second, whichhelps keep the elephants at bay while not inflicting harm on them.
Alongthe fence there are many gates for local residents to pass through.
The fence was built at total cost of 85 billion VND (3.7 million USD) sourcedfrom state and local budgets.
Dong Nai province’s forest is currently home to about 15 wild elephants. Inrecent years, there have been increasing conflicts between local farmers andwild elephants as the animals approached residential areas and destroyed localcrops and orchards. In the past seven years, nine wild elephants died and oneperson was killed by elephants.-VNA