Himachal Pradesh-based Dr Rudraditya concluded his three-month-long campaign in 11 forest circles in the state last week. Talking to TOI, he said his proposal was approved by PCCF (wildlife) Sarjan Bhagat in April. "Since then, I have demonstrated the low cost and affordable technique in 140 vulnerable villages and results are mind-boggling," he said.
Under the technique, half kg chilies are wrapped in a gunny sack. The material is tied to a stick or pole and burnt after fixing it at the farm boundary. The strong pungent smell of the chilies keeps wild animals away from the farm.
"Wild animals have an amazing sense of smell. The chili smoke can travel up to 500-1000 metres," claimed Santosh Narnawre, a farmer from Kiniwalgi in Darwha (Yavatmal).
Narnawre said farmers used chili smoke from 6pm till 9pm, the time when wild boars and nilgais are most active. "We use the technique twice a week. It is yielding 100% results," he added.
Bhagat said, "We have received good feedback from farmers on the technique. Its full implementation will be done in the state from wildlife week in October. We are ready with videos and literature. The staff trained by Dr Rudraditya will promote it. We hope to curb damage to crops by animals in a big way."
Dr Rudraditya had first hit upon chili smoke technique in 2003 and implemented it around Kafue National Park in Zambia in Africa where he worked as a wildlife vet under United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Later, it was also implemented near other African parks where farmers faced problem from elephants.
Dr Rudraditya also popularized the method in Thailand and Nepal where he worked as a consultant between 2008 and 2011. Back in India, he implemented it in elephant states like Odisha, Kerala, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal. In J&K and Himachal, chili smoke was used to scare away sloth bears. "I also used it to solve menace of leopards and elephants in Assam tea gardens," said Dr Rudraditya.
In Marathwada, wild boars damaging crops is a big issue. "Farmers are using this technique there. It is also helping them avoid man-animal conflict," he said.
The demonstration was also carried out in vulnerable Chandrapur district where 17 people have died in man-animal conflict this year. A tiger in Pombhurna was shot dead on August 19. When asked, Dr Rudraditya said, "The Kothari range forest officer (RFO) did not allow me to enter the conflict area. I could have tried to solve the problem with my technique. I can connect with the locals very well."
Dr Rudraditya came into elephant conservation after his parents were killed by a herd of elephants in Namphada park in Arunachal Pradesh. He was just 10 years then. He worked on sensitizing villagers in state for free. The department only paid for his travel and board.
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