Summary:
Five of these 41 elephants have died.The forests adjoining Athmalik, Athgarh, Dhenkanal and Cuttack are 'elephant-rich' in forester's terms. "But the very fact that they are around the wells will help elephants know from a distance that there is a physical barrier. We will mix both and raise a fence, four to five feet above the ground," Samantra said.He clarified that any fence - wooden or concrete - can be damaged by elephants. The elephants won't be caught unawares upon coming close to the wells. These same animals also face dangers stemming from human mistakes, like the threat of abandoned wells.Divisional forest officer (Athmalik) Samyak Samantra said creating these wooden barriers involves only the cost of labour..