Acoustic device helping scare away animals from crops

NAGPUR: There was a hue and cry recently over the gunning down of eight nilgais allegedly destroying crops on farms in Katol and Narkhed tehsils, with sharp criticism from wildlife conservationists too. In contrast, the Gondia forest division has successfully implemented an ‘acoustic animal dispersal technique’ to scare away herbivores deprading crops. Gondia is perhaps the first district in the state to implement the new technique on a trial basis.The cost of each device is 33,000, which is cheaper than solar fencing. These devices are used on a large-scale in Karnataka by coffee cultivators.
“The instrument, known as Harmony Q3, operates on solar energy and has been installed on a pilot basis at 10 places in Gondia district in vulnerable Sadak Arjuni, Tiroda, Amgaon and some other places,” said deputy conservator of forests (DyCF) Jitendra Ramgaonkar. “The device emits recorded roars of tigers and leopards, which are an original reproduction of the voices of carnivores. The best part is that the small equipment operates automatically after sunset and shuts down around sunrise,” said Ramgaonkar.
Some 50% of Gondia’s geographical area is forested. With some 2,500 sq km of the 5,000 sq km area having forest, damage to crops by wild animals is a big issue. The Gondia division has paid over 1.44 crore towards damage to crops in the last three years (2012-15) in a total of 3,267 cases. The number of cases may be even more unofficially.
To handle the sensitive issue, 10 such acoustic animal dispersal devices are working to scare away herbivores approaching the crops during night. The device covers an area of 700 metres, and during the night its sound travels far.
The sound is so real that in Malkanpur village, people had once even come out of their homes with sticks during the night, fearing a fight between two tigers near their village, said Ramgaonkar.
Buoyed by the success and feedback, even Gondia Congress MLA Gopal Agrawal is pushing for its promotion. “I’ve spoken to forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, forest secretary Vikas Kharage and principal secretary to chief minister Praveen Pardeshi to promote the equipment in entire Gondia district,” Agrawal told TOI.
BJP MLA from Katol Ashish Deshmukh, who brought in shooters to gun down eight nilgais in his constituency, could learn some lessons from Agrawal.
“Gondia is one of the worst hit districts due to animal conflict. Yet, I strongly feel that killing herbivores is not a solution. Even former MLA from Sakoli Dayaram Kapgate has installed the equipment in his farm,” said Agrawal. “Harmony 3 device should be supplied to farmers on subsidy. I will seek funds under Gondia DPDC,” the Congress MLA said.
The Gondia forest division too is persuading those seeking crop damage compensation to procure Harmony 3. “We are also taking feedback from gram panchayats to promote the device,” said Ramgaonkar.