The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Microchip implant to track elephant movement

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Friday, Jan 29, 2010
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Microchip implant to track elephant movement

Staff Reporter

Tiruvannamalai: The Forest Department is planning to use microchip implant to tackle elephant menace which affects people living in villages situated on the peripheries of Jawadu Hills, particularly farmers.

Three elephants belonging to a herd died recently in separate incidents. They also killed two men, damaged crops and several huts of farmers. After visiting the spot where a young elephant died of electrocution near Polur on Thursday, Conservator of Forests, Vellore, A.V. Venkatachalam, told reporters that the Forest Department was contemplating to implant microchip in the matriarch of a herd which was causing damage to crops and houses of farmers.

“It is difficult to keep track of elephants wandering on an area of about 3,000 sq km. So we plan to separate the matriarch of the eight-member herd, plant a microchip and reunite it with the herd with the help of kumki elephants. We can then keep track of the herd using a computer. We will be able to warn people and also department personnel to tackle the elephant menace. We have sent proposals to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and chief wildlife warden for this plan,” Mr.Venkatachalam said.

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