CAPE ARGUS –
1939, February 21
How do elephants
react to electric shocks?
The ADDO Reserve
authorities have decided to electrify the boundary fence to keep the elephants
from breaking through and damaging the property of neighbouring farmers. Doubts
have been expresses, however, about the results of the experiment. It has been
predicted that electric shocks will enrage the elephants and lead to further havoc.
“No one can
say what will happen until the experiment has been tried,” said Dr. L. Gill, of
the South African Museum, to a representative of The Argus today. “Elephants
have sensitive trunks, and if the electrified wire is not thick, they may sweep
it away in an instant.”
LOW VOLTAGE
Animal welfare
officials do not regard the experiment as cruel. A low voltage will be used,
with the idea of causing surprise rather than pain.
One
Bechuanaland rancher has already proved the value of a slightly electrified
fence in preventing cattle from breaking down the wire. The fence is also used
as a telephone line between the homestead and distant parts of the ranch.
Animals have learned to keep away from the wire.
Elephants,
however, may behave differently. A circus elephant which had wandered away to
explore an orchard once encountered a live wire. It became so infuriated that
many trees were uprooted before its rage abated.
TELEPHONE
LINE UPROOTED
Postal
officials in many African territories know how telegraph lines suffer when
there are elephant herds in the neighbourhood. A telephone line between Outjo
and Okaukueyo, South-West Africa, was torn up for miles last year.
Elephants
are said to dislike the humming noises of the wires. On the other hand, it may
be that they receive a slight shock while lifting their inquisitive trunks to
the wire, and uproot the poles as an act of revenge. Wireless is
used for communication in the Kruger National Park. Elephants there have caused
so much havoc that it is regarded as hopeless to erect telegraph poles.
Read an interesting story how African honeybees have been proposed as a possible deterrent to elephants.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5920247_African_elephants_run_from_the_sound_of_disturbed_bees
Read an interesting story how African honeybees have been proposed as a possible deterrent to elephants.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5920247_African_elephants_run_from_the_sound_of_disturbed_bees
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