Jhapa district has made a major investment in combating the longstanding issue of human-elephant conflict, constructing 76 kilometers of offset solar fencing in various locations. This includes a recent 35-km fence in the Jalthal forest area, a 16.98-km fence in Mechinagar Municipality, and additional smaller sections.
These initiatives build upon a previous 18-km electric fence project. The National Trust for Conservation of Nature provided technical support. While some older fences require repair, these efforts are crucial as elephants frequently cross into human settlements, causing casualties.
Since 2068 BS, 67 people and 20 elephants have died in such conflicts. Compensation totaling Rs 71.97 million has been paid to victims. This year, seven human deaths have been reported in Jhapa. The new solar fences offer significant hope in reducing the severity of this ongoing issue.
