Electric fencing can provide a useful barrier to elephants around crops (O’Connell 1995, Hart and O’Connell undated). However, experience in Namibia indicates that while electric fences can successfully deter elephants from entering a specific area, they fail mainly for institutional reasons. In Kunene Region for example, the NGO IRDNC (Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation) assisted conservancies to erect 9 electric fences, none of which are currently functional as the conservancy did not take ownership of the fences, and did not therefore conduct the essential maintenance required to keep the fences operational (Esterhuizen, A. Pers. Comm.).
Stander (Pers. Comm.) suggests that electric fencing rarely works even in game reserves because of a lack of capacity to maintain them, but could work in some private game parks, or to protect a house or garden. Owen-Smith (Pers. Comm.) suggested that such small fences could be powered by a solar panel that could provide electricity for the house, giving the inhabitants an even stronger incentive to maintain the fence and equipment.
O’Connell (1995) reported that elephants usually found their way around the fences if they were not closed or narrowed at the ends as much as possible. For electric fences in Kunene Region the cost to cover an area of 5km² was approximately N$ 15.000 (≈ 2.150 US $) including double wire, alarm, energiser, one solar panel, battery, regulator, insulators, protection box and tester (Esterhuizen Pers. Comm.).
Stander (Pers. Comm.) suggests that electric fencing rarely works even in game reserves because of a lack of capacity to maintain them, but could work in some private game parks, or to protect a house or garden. Owen-Smith (Pers. Comm.) suggested that such small fences could be powered by a solar panel that could provide electricity for the house, giving the inhabitants an even stronger incentive to maintain the fence and equipment.
O’Connell (1995) reported that elephants usually found their way around the fences if they were not closed or narrowed at the ends as much as possible. For electric fences in Kunene Region the cost to cover an area of 5km² was approximately N$ 15.000 (≈ 2.150 US $) including double wire, alarm, energiser, one solar panel, battery, regulator, insulators, protection box and tester (Esterhuizen Pers. Comm.).
