Fence with beehives to be set up on farmland in Tamil Nadu

Fence with beehives would be set up on farmland on forest fringes in Tamil Nadu to keep wild elephants away, state Minister of Forests Dindigul Srinivasan said Friday. Talking to newsmen here after inaugurating a forest range office, he said the elephants reportedly enter farms and destroy the crops, which also leads to man-animal conflicts.

"We will set up beehives on the fence to prevent the elephants from straying into the farmland. Such fences are more safe and natural than an electrified fence," the Minister said. It is reported that the buzzing of bees would drive the elephants away.

The Minister further said steps would be taken to regularise the service of 'Vettai Thaduppu Kavalargal' (Hunting Prevention Guards).

Also, the Minister laid the foundation stone for the Agasthiar Park at Kalakadu Mundanthurai Tiger Sanctuary.