The Bengal forest department has started installing around 12km of energised fencing encircling Jhargram town in Jungle Mahal to protect human habitats from regular attacks by elephants.

The move was planned after the town witnessed several incidents of human-animal conflict since last year.

Foresters said that at least 26 people had been killed in elephant attacks in Jhargram division last year, eight of them within the town limits.

“The decision to encircle the town with electric fencing was first discussed last year after three persons were killed in elephant attacks inside the town. A larger part of the town shares borders with forests, and elephants often enter the township in search of food. We think that energised fencing will help reduce elephant attacks,” said a senior forest official.

Energised fencing gives a low-voltage electric shock on touch.

The forest department will spend around Rs 50 lakh on the fencing. The work is likely to be finished within two months, sources said.

A source said Jhargram would be the first urban centre in south Bengal to be encircled by energised fencing to prevent human-animal conflict.

Several foresters said that loner elephants — who don't stay in herds — have become a threat to human lives in Jhargram and three other Jungle Mahal districts – Bankura, Purulia, and West Midnapore. Also, the number of elephants coming to this region from Jharkhand and Odisha has gone up in the past few years. Around 200 elephants stay in Jungle Mahal now for at least eight months of a year.