Kerala has begun installing an 18.50-kilometre solar elephant fence across two stretches between Kalakkadavu and the Neriamangalam Agricultural Farm in the Kothamangalam forest division, aiming to reduce human-wildlife conflict in the Thattekkad and Kavalangad areas of Ernakulam district.
The construction was inaugurated by MLA Shibu Thekkumpuram at a function held at Punnekad Junction. The project is being implemented under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) at an estimated cost of Rs 1.66 crore. It is intended to limit the movement of wild elephants from the Periyar river towards inhabited areas.
The planned barrier will combine a solar-powered fence with artificial intelligence-enabled monitoring and early-warning equipment. The system will use smart energisers, motion-sensor cameras and an early-warning network to alert residents when an elephant approaches the fence.
According to the project details reported by Mathrubhumi, five smart energisers and 20 early-warning systems will be installed at different locations along the two sections. When an elephant is detected near the fence, the system will send a warning message and an image to mobile phones. It will also activate an audio system intended to drive the elephant away.
The mobile alerts are designed to give residents time to remain vigilant and to help Rapid Response Teams reach the location quickly. The system therefore combines a physical deterrent with remote detection and communication, linking forest protection infrastructure with local residents and emergency response personnel.
The project is being implemented under the Kothamangalam Forest Division, with the agriculture and local-government administration also represented at the inauguration. Priyamol Thomas, Assistant Director of the Agriculture Block, explained the project at the event. Kothamangalam Divisional Forest Officer K.R. Sooraj Ben and representatives of the block and grama panchayat administrations also attended.
The infrastructure is being installed in the Thattekkad-Kavalangad region, where elephant movement into settlements has created a recurring challenge for residents and agricultural areas. The selected alignment from Kalakkadavu to the Neriamangalam Agricultural Farm is intended to cover routes through which elephants enter populated areas after moving along the Periyar.
The use of solar power is intended to support operation of the fence and monitoring equipment in areas where conventional electricity infrastructure may be difficult to extend. The project’s effectiveness will depend on the installation and functioning of the fence, cameras, warning systems and response arrangements across the full 18.50-kilometre alignment. The official project details supplied in the report do not specify the completion date or the operational agency responsible for maintaining the system after installation.
