Elephants and other animals will be discouraged from crossing the nearby railway tracks thanks to the 10,000-volt hanging solar barrier. The jolt from the barrier is not fatal, though.
The government of Odisha has developed practical strategies to stop elephant deaths from being caused by trains. In order to prevent wild pachyderms from approaching railway lines and highways, the state forest agency has chosen to install hanging solar fencing along railway tracks that go across elephant routes.
The action was taken in response to the terrible deaths of a female elephant and two elephant calves that were struck and killed by a train on May 19, 2022, in Joda in Keonjhar. A herd of 22 elephants crossed the railway track during the event.
The 750-meter-long hanging solar fence over the railroad tracks between Krech and Behera hutting in the Joda area was officially launched by Keonjhar DFO Dhanraj Hanuman and the chairman of the Joda Block, marking a first for the State.
The Keonjhar DFO tweeted, “Hanging Solar fencing- an experimental scheme to deter elephants from entering on busy national highway between Behera and Crech hutting, Joda and railway track.”
Elephants and other animals will be discouraged from crossing the nearby railway tracks thanks to the 10,000-volt hanging solar barrier. The jolt from the barrier is not fatal, though.
“It is not just solar but hanging solar fence. This has been installed in Odisha for the first time. There will be three milli-second pulses and no current in the wires. Once the elephants come in contact with the fence, elephants will receive a shock and won’t try to cross the rail track after one or two attempts. This will reduce accidents to a great extent,” hoped Keonjhar DFO Dhanraj Hanuman.
Joda Block Chairman said, “In several elephant movement zones, the forest department has created trenches near rail tracks to prevent jumbos from venturing on the railway lines. But, it has not yielded much fruitful results and elephants often cross the trenches due to which mishaps occur. Therefore, the forest department has installed solar fencing which will prevent deaths of elephants and also ensure the safety of humans.”
What is solar fence?
One of the best possibilities for supplying security is solar fence because it is a modernised and unusual way that is both effective and efficient. A solar fence functions similarly to an electric fence in that it shocks people or animals who come in contact with it with a brief but powerful shock. The shock is not fatal, though.
How does hanging solar fencing work?
When a solar fence system’s solar module produces direct current (DC) from sunlight to charge the system’s battery, the system is ready to operate. Depending on sunlight hours and capacity, the system’s battery can often last up to 24 hours in a day.
The controller, fencer, charger, or energizer receives the output of the charged battery. The energizer generates a brief yet powerful voltage when it is powered. The energizer’s primary job is to generate rapid, brief pulses with a voltage of close to 8000 volts. In order to prevent any physical harm from being done to anyone who tries to come into touch with the solar fence, these pulses are sent via the fencing system’s wires at a rate of roughly one pulse every one to five seconds with each pulse lasting for close to three milliseconds.
Prasanta Patnaik