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The method has
proved effective and Honeyguide Foundation, which hit upon the
idea several years ago, with U.S.-based Nature Conservancy has
stepped up its promotion, training volunteers in villages in
north Tanzania to use a non-violent four-step way of protecting
their homes and crops without hurting the animals. Previously
many used spears to defend themselves.
Friday is World Elephant Day, which is dedicated to the
protection of the animals.
"Since we developed the ... toolkit, we have seen an attitude
change within these communities whereby they are much more
confident that they can keep elephants out of their fields
without harming the elephants," Honeyguide executive director
Damian Bell said in a statement.
The first two steps involve shining a torch at the trespassing
elephant and sounding a horn. If it is not deterred, a so-called
"chilli cloud" is thrown.
Chilli powder mixed with soil is packed with a firecracker into
a condom, its end is twisted shut with just the fuse exposed.
When lit, the condom bursts open with a bang, spraying a fine
dust of chilli powder into the air. One whiff is usually enough
to send an elephant the other way.
A last resort is a launcher that shoots a Roman candle firework
into the air, producing a loud, bright explosion.
(Reporting By Matthew Stock; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
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