A handful of villages on the edge of the Buxa Tiger Reserve now have additional assurance that they will be better informed about dangers posed by wildlife on the move. The North Bengal Amateur Radio Society has assisted a group of youths from five villages near the tiger reserve so, as licensed hams, they can watch out for potential deadly encounters between humans and animals.
The young amateurs began this effort after the last monsoon in which two young villagers were attacked and killed by elephants in a remote village of Chepani, according to a report on the website of the Indian publication, the Telegram. The young team received guidance from Swarup Saha, VU3KOX, secretary of the North Bengal ham society. Mobile connectivity is unreliable in remote areas of the region and villagers were often unable to warn one another about dangers to their homes, their crops and their lives.
Three months after the small team of hams was formed, radios have been set up in each small village near the tiger reserve. Villagers told the Telegram they were much more confident now that they will be better able to protect themselves and their homes.