Animals on the Edge

India: Chilli pepper project

Aims

The aim of the project is to minimise the impact on forest habitat and wildlife caused by farming communities living at the edge of the buffer zone with Kanha National Park.

Overview

The buffer zone between the protected area of Kanha National Park and the communities existing around the park is supposed to provide protection for both wildlife and people. However, it is ineffective. Animals from the Park often wander beyond the buffer zone onto agricultural land, destroying crops.

Animals on the Edge, in co-operation with a local charity, is trialling a method of crop protection that has been effective in parts of Africa. The project involves the planting of chilli peppers around core crops to form a natural fence. The chillies are repugnent to the animals, who go out of their way to avoid them, and so act as a barrier between the forest and crops.

Additionally, the chillies, once harvested, can be sold, so providing a secondary income to the farmer.

Future Actions

If the trial is successful, we aim to broaden the project to include other communities affected by crop damage caused by wildlife.