Concrete barriers help curb wildlife incursions in Bardiya
Summary
A concrete barrier built along a canal in Thakurbaba Municipality is helping keep elephants, tigers and other wild animals from entering settlements and damaging crops near Bardiya National Park. Officials say the structure is reducing human-wildlife conflict, though gaps in protection remain in other areas of the park boundary.
Key Points
- Thakurbaba Municipality has built about 808 metres of concrete canal-barrier in Dumreni to block wildlife from entering settlements near Bardiya National Park.
- The structure is part of the Babai Irrigation Project and is intended to provide irrigation while reducing crop damage and human-wildlife conflict.
- Residents and officials say the barrier has reduced incursions by elephants, tigers, deer and wild boars in completed sections.
- Despite previous electric fencing and wire mesh, wildlife still breaches some areas because of damage and weak monitoring.
