Prickly 'hana' in Puttalam to repel pachyderms
Wild elephants raiding villages in Puttalam situated in the coconut triangle, could be deterred by a plant locally called ‘ hana’, with prickly leaves and which could grow more than 2 metres tall.
A ‘bio fence’ of these plants, or Agave, would help protect about 400,000 people in 500 villages in the 14 of 16 divisional areas in Puttalam, known in historical times as Mangala Thotupola.
In the past decade, nearly 200,000 coconut plants in the Puttalam District in the Northwestern Province, have been destroyed by wild elephants.
J K Ajith Weerasinghe of Karuwelagaswewa Divisional Secretariat, who had suffered due to wild elephants, had kept the raiders away by planting hana.
“I was one of those who suffered immensely from attacks by elephants. We did many things to get rid of them. We erected an electric fence but elephants were not scared. Then I got some hana and planted them at certain places on three sides of my land. All the other lands except mine suffered elephant attacks.’’
The Divisional Secretariat which had heard about the idea, had visited him and asked if he could give seedlings to others, he said.
“But, I was not financially strong enough to do so. At this time however, Voice Institute at Puttalam came to our assistance. They launched a project. Now I am planning to provide others too with hana plants.’’
Janaka Thushara Balasuriya of the Divisional Secretariat, said the hana barriers are effective. “It has brought good results. This plant is scientifically known as’ Agave Americana’. It is believed that elephants are scared of the spikes on the leaves.’’
He said a plant nursery has been set up on Mr Weerasinghe’s land, so that plants could be provided to those who badly need them.