Chilli Deterrents

CHILLI DETERRENTS DIFFERENT METHODS

Chilli is a natural deterrent.

It contains a chemical called capsaicin that irritates elephants’ noses and eyes. Chillies can be used in a number of ways and as a low-tech and non-lethal method for repelling elephants.

METHOD 1:

METHOD 2:

Chilli barrier crops + GROWING DIFFERENT CHILLIES

Chilli fencing

Capsaicin is the ingredient that makes chilli spicy.

When this enters the trunk and eyes, it causes uncomfortable burning sensation.

Elephants have an extremely good sense of smell and will be able to smell chilli from a distance.

METHOD 3:

Chilli smoke techniques

METHOD 4:

Chilli cracker variants

Credit: Osborn F.V., Rasmussen L.E.L. 1995.

Evidence for the effectiveness of an oleoresin capsicum aerosol as a repellent against wild elephants in Zimbabwe. Pachyderm 20:55–64.

METHOD 1: PLANTING CHILLI BARRIER CROPS Chilli can be sold for extra income.

Grow hot chillies as barrier plants or to intensify other methods of deterrent.

Raw and processed chilli can be high-value products and can be a cash crop when sold.

Elephants are extremely intelligent and will learn how to adapt over time. It is best to use multiple deterrents to avoid habituation by elephants.

Dried chilli flakes

Chilli sauce

Chilli fences are most effective when freshly ground chillies are used, rather than processed chilli powder.

1.

Chilli pickle

METHOD 2: CHILLI FENCES

Chilli fence is made up of a mixture of chilli powder and old engine oil.

TYPE 1: Chilli rag fence

Two sisal strings are hung horizontally between posts.

Pieces of cloths are stretched and tied to sisal strings at regular intervals.

It is important that the fence is designed in such a way that elephants must come in close contact with the chilli rags.

Cut up old sheets, clothes or carpets to make the cloth pieces.

Chilli rag fence installed in Mwambiti village, Sagalla, Kenya © Meha Kumar/Save the Elephants

MATERIAL CHECKLIST

(For 1 acre, 240m)

Once an elephant reacts to the chilli on its trunk, other elephants will react cautiously too.

Freshly ground dried chilli is preferred, rather than processed chilli powder.

PROCESS

Time to prepare and install - 4 to 5 hours.

Credit: Collaborative Manual by Chang’a et al. 2015. Chilli fences keep elephants out of crops! How to make and support chilli fences.

1.

Around 10 litres of used engine oil

5kgs of sisal string

48 pieces cloths (60x40cm)

2.5kgs of freshly ground chilli

2.

Mix the ground chilli with the old engine oil together.

Soak the sisal strings and cloths in the mixture.

Old engine oil is the best binding agent for chilli powder.

3.

8 - 10m

The poles should be distance of 8 to 10 m

apart.

TIP

Hang 2 pieces of cloth between 2 poles to reduce the number of poles needed.

24 poles, at least 3m (118 inches) long and 3 to 4 inches wide

2.

5.

Mortar and pestle to grind fresh chilli

Face mask and gloves when handling chilli & old engine oil

4.

2.5m

1m

You can choose to add another string 1 m above the ground, to avoid baby elephants walking into the farm.

The herd will break through the fence to guide the baby out.

1.5 - 2 m

The height of the upper strings should be 2.5m and lower strings at 1.5 to 2m above the ground.

Tie each corner of the cloth pieces to the lines of rope. Do not hang them as they can fly away.

6.

Live poles that can root and re-sprout can be used in place of poles.

Examples include Commiphera spp.

TYPE 2: Chilli rope fence Grind 1 kg fresh chilli into a thick paste without adding water.

Add 1 kg powdered tobacco, 1/2kg grease and 1/2kg used engine oil.

Add the ground chilli to this mixture.

Dip the ropes into the mixture and hang them around the farm.

This is effective for small fields and during the dry season.

Congo

This design has successfully been tested in Congo by ‘Save-Elephants’.

Chilli oil will bind firmly to carpets and the whole strip can be taken down and re-dipped in the chilli oil for repair.

2 inches 2 inches

Cutting old carpets in Leboulou, Congo © Save-Elephants, z.s

TIPS FOR MANAGEMENT

Regularly monitor the fence to make sure all the components are in place. Re-apply chilli when needed.

Fence is simple and easy to put up and take down.

Relatively inexpensive to construct and source materials.

It takes a few days to construct.

Chilli can be grown as a buffer crop around other crops in farms.

CONS

-

Put up the fence when the crops are ripening near the time of harvest and take down after harvest to avoid elephant habituation.

Labour intensive especially during the rains when chilli needs to be re-applied.

Lining thorny acacia branches (bio-fences) along the fence may help keep the calves and other small animals away.

Farmers need to have a sustainable means of sourcing materials in order for the fence to be regularly re-applied.

Assess which direction the elephants usually come from and hang the rags.

The chilli effects will reduce with time (after 20 days if it has been dry, 7 days if it has been raining heavily).

See Bio-fences as Barriers for more.

Cover your mouth, eyes and nose when handling chilli.

Use rubber gloves and protective wear when handling the chilli mixture.

Do not touch your eyes or face when handling chilli. Avoid contact with skin.

This is a short-term measure and should be used with combined deterrents. up chilli fences strategically on the approach paths from the bush to your farm. Elephants fear crossing TIP: Set unexpected barriers or deterrents and should shy away from getting too close to your farm/village. Combine and rotate chilli fences with other deterrents like trip alarm fences to avoid habituation.

More information: The Virtual Fence Dynamic: A Breakthrough for Low-Cost and Sustainable Mitigation of Human-Elephant Conflict in Subsistence Agriculture

3.

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PROS

This is the same concept, without using the cloths.

Old engine oil is not an environmentally disposal material.

Chilli fences may fail if farmers are unwilling or financially unable to maintain the fences.

Chilli fence can get painful and messy when applying.

Chilli potency degrades with time.

Reinforce any fence with chilli to help keep elephants away.

More info: www.connectedconservation.com, www.honeyguide.org, www.ecoexistproject.org , www.maraelephantproject.org

METHOD 3: CHILLI SMOKE TECHNIQUES

TYPE 1: CHILLI BRIQUETTES

Credit: Ecoexist Project, Okovango delta, www.ecoexistproject.org

INGREDIENTS

Burning chilli is a good way to keep elephants away.

The smoke is unpleasant, and will mask the smell of ripe crops.

type 1a: PROCESS

Once the briquette is dry, burning it creates a pungent chilli smoke that elephants can smell from a distance.

Such briquettes smoulder and stay alight for upto 12 to 14 hours when lit.

Placing a small burning wood or wick in the middle of each briquette can keep it smouldering for 6 to 7 hours.

1.

Mix ground chilli and crushed elephant/cow dung at a ratio of 1:2. Mix with water to bind ingredients if the dung is dry.

4.

2.

Press this into moulds of 20cm length and 15cm height. Use old tins or plastic boxes to make moulds.

5.

Turn the briquettes over after 2 days to ensure the briquettes are dried evenly.

Burn these downwind in the direction of the elephants’ path.

Be cautious that the smoke is not blowing towards your neighbours.

4.

Dried elephant or cow dung

Used engine oil

Water

type 1b: PROCESS

An alternate mixture of elephant dung, ground chilli powder and old engine oil can be used.

Briquettes using engine oil are moulded and left to dry for 4 weeks.

TIP:

Fresh/dried ground chilli powder

6.

7.

Pungent smoke will blow to the direction of approaching elephants.

Check which direction the wind is coming from.

3.

Remove the moulds once the mixture has set and then leave out to dry.

When crops are ripe and elephants are visiting, put up a small and controlled fireplaces around the farm.

Use stones to make the fireplace.

8.

Do not leave fires unattended.

TYPE 2: CHILLI BALLS INGREDIENTS

1.

PROCESS

3.

2.

Take a medium bottle of sunflower oil.

Pour out a little less than a quarter of the oil and fill the bottle with chilli.

Elephant or cow dung

Dry the dung and form into balls and place to one side.

First you need to collect some elephant dung.

Vegetable oil

Sharp pointed stick and funel

5.

6.

9.

10.

Shake well!

8.

7.

Use a stick to poke a hole in the ball, and use a funnel to insert the chilli liquid.

This is a very strong repellent, so use necessary protective wear during this process.

4.

Make small holes 3 inch above the bottom of the tin.

Take half litre empty and clean cans of paint.

12.

11.

Clean and empty paint can

For best and safest practise - put the dung ball in the tin can. Just before you plan to light it, add a few drops of kerosene or parrafin on the ball and place it in the tin can to prevent a fire.

Kerosene/ Paraffin

13.

Once the ball is alight, gently turn it around in the can to smother the flames so that it is just smoking.

The smoke should come out of the holes in the tin and spread into the surrounding area.

Hang this around several safe areas around the farm

Freshly ground chilli powder

5.

The balls burn slowly and produce a strong smelling cloud of chilli smoke.

Cover the tin with its lid so no water goes inside.

14.

If elephants are approaching the farm, the smell of the burning chilli smoke will keep them away.

Always wear rubber gloves and a

PROS

SAFETY TIP: face mask when working with chilli and old engine oil.

Ensure you are close enough to keep an eye on the smoking cans.

Take care of your safety and do not stand downwind.

Chilli smoke can be very unpleasant for humans too!

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Research has shown that even the smallest amount of chilli smoke causes elephants to react and leave.

Chilli briquettes are a more affordable option for small scale farmers.

Installation is easy to implement.

Materials are locally available. Chilli can be grown as a buffer crop.

CONS

-

Sometimes elephants change their movements to go around chilli sites either before or after the chilli is burnt.

Depends on the wind direction. If the smoke blows in the wrong direction, it will not deter elephants.

A big amount of chilli is needed for production.

Many chilli bricks are needed to protect a field (5 briquettes every 100 metres).

During the rains, this is not very effective. Some type of roofing might need to be considered in case of strong rains.

Chilli briquettes are good as a short-term measure, but not as long-term strategies.

Communicate with your neighbours to inform them on the tehcnique you choose to use to avoid harmful interaction with the smoke.

TYPE 3: TIN CHILLI SMOKE During the rains, it may be difficult to make chilli smoke. Chilli smoke tins make it easy to burn in the rain.

Take 1/2 litre empty tin cans with a lid e.g. old paint tins Make small holes 3 inch above the bottom all around the tin.

Put dry grass, dried elephant dung, broken red chilli pods, chilli seeds and tobacco leaves inside the tin.

Read more on: Chilli-briquettes modify the temporal behaviour of elephants, but not their numbers.

6.

Light the fire inside the tin so smoke will come out of the holes.Cover the tin with its lid so no water goes inside.

Hang several such tins around entry point.

Credit: Wildlife, Research and Conservation Society

METHOD 4: CHILLI BOMBS, CRACKERS OR AEROSOLS These are best used to chase elephants and other animals from farms.

If lights and air horns do not work, throw multiple chilli crackers in succession. One single cracker might not be enough to completely chase an elephant herd off a farm.

MATERIAls needed

PROCESS powder, soil and a firecracker are 1. Chilli all packed together in a condom, to

Credits: Conflict Mitigation Manual by the Elephant Education and Training PEACE Project.

create a chili cracker.

Soil adds weight to the cracker when thrown. (3 teaspoons of chilli powder, 3 teaspoons of soil/sand).

Use combined methods for most effective farm protection.

Over time, these may decrease in effectiveness as certain bull elephants may get used to it.

Be wary of chasing elephants into neighbouring farms.

They may prevent elephants from entering farms.

chilli crackers are then lit and 2. The thrown above the elephants, taking Sand or soil

explosive sound of the cracker and 3. The the chilli powder irritant combine to form a powerful deterrent to elephants.

care when handling 4. Take firecrackers or explosive Condom or balloon

devices.

Firecracker

PROS

TYPE 1: CHILLI BOMBS or CRACKERS A condom is filled with chilli and a firecracker.

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Combines 2 known deterrents into one, targetting smell and sound. The loud noise helps with scaring away visiting elephants.

The explosive sound of the cracker and the chilli powder irritant combine to form a powerful deterrent to elephants.

To prevent severe hand injuries that may result from mishandling, firecrackers should be thrown within a time frame of fewer than 2 seconds.

wind direction into account.

Chilli powder

Cheap and easy for anyone to assemble given basic training.

Ready made chilli cracker © Meha Kumar/Save the Elephants

Effective in deterring elephant herds if used in succession.

CONS

-

There can be high risk to the user and elephant if used improperly.

Some bull elephants may still return to farm not long after being chased away.

Training required to ensure proper use.

Do not misuse chilli bombs.

Credit: Honeyguide in partnership with The Nature Conservancy trialed this in the area surrounding Tarangire. www.honeyguide.org

7.

TYPE 2: CHILLI AEROSOLS

PROS

This method may use motion triggered devices that can be installed on the fence (like automatic air freshner dispensers).

When an elephant gets close to the fence, the device will spray a light peppered mist in the elephants direction.

TYPE 3: CHILLI PEPPER GAS DISPENSER

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CONS

Elephants can be deterred without direct human intervention.

Relatively expensive and high maintenance.

When used correctly this can be a very effective method.

The direction of the spray may be influenced by the wind.

(positive outcomes in Zimbabwe)

Credits: Loki Osborn & Malvern Karidozo from Connected Conservation.

Chilli beeswax rub

Beeswax rub is a new innovation combining dried chilli melted into beeswax which helps it stick to various surfaces.

Training and experience needed

This is a device that shoots ping-pong balls filled with chilli-oil extract towards elephants.

The ping pong balls are fired with strong force, to reach the elephant and burst when hitting the skin.

While these are unpleasant, they are non-lethal.

Credit: Repelling elephants with a chilli pepper gas dispenser: field tests and practical use in Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe from 2009 to 2013

8.

Only professionals & rangers are permitted to apply on elephants during darting operations!

Examples of where chilli rub can be applied

1 Do not misuse this device. Use other deterrents first.

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On elephants

4 Water pipes

2 Outdoor structures 5

Fence posts

3Tree saplings It retains the chilli oil enabling it to be an effective elephant deterrent for many weeks .

ACTIONS TO TAKE CHILLI MARKETS

CHILLI PRODUCTION

Chilli fences and chilli bricks can create a new income stream for farmers, as they grow chillis in their farms, to use and as a cash crop.

Extra can be sold in the market.

Try and scale up chilli production through establishing nurseries or greenhouses.

This will ensure you harvest chillis that are of high quality.

It is beneficial when there is already an existing market for chillis.

Value-added products can be made out of raw chilli, including chilli oils, sauces, jams, powders and flakes.

Elephants are very intelligent and may get used to a method.

The effectiveness of methods may reduce as elephants become more habituated to them.

Use chilli deterrents in combination with other methods.

WIND AND SAFETY

GOOD FOR DRYLAND

TRAINING

Keenly observe direction of the wind when using smoke and aerosol techniques.

Training and experience is needed with certain methods, particularly the more technical methods.

Take care with children, livestock and the elderly.

Chillis are very potent and can be extremely painful to humans too!

Caution tips:

HABITUATION

When working with chilli, do not to touch eyes, mouth and sensitive areas.

When using boundary fires or chilli smoke techniques – be careful not to set fire to the farm!

Some methods are only suitable if the wind is blowing towards approaching elephants and away from fields and home.

Big fires are hazardous and must be avoided. This causes a risk of them spreading into wild fires.

Make sure to completely put out fires after the elephants have gone.

Do not harm elephants with fire!

Always use protective wear and safety equipment like rubber gloves and a mask when handling chilli and old engine oil.

Chillies are more drought resistant than crops like maize.

They are more suitable for arid areas and grows well in low rainfall areas.

Wash hands thoroughly when touching chilli.

ALTERNATIVE CROPS

Farmers are encouraged to plant crops that are disliked by elephants – e.g sunflowers, ginger, lemongrass, chilli, garlic, onion, tobacco, rubber, cotton or eggplants along the fence line.

This might reduce the appeal of crop raiding elephants and may help prevent fence breaking.

See Crop choice if you life alongside elephants for more information

Credits and Disclaimer:

We have collected the information above from multiple projects. Main sources include: Connected Conservation, Honey Guide, WRCS India, EcoExist project, Save-Elephants and Mara Elephant Project. This manual is not extensive. To learn more on using chilli and explore literature further, see . Save the Elephants advises caution with all the methods collected and presented in this toolbox. Further research may be required before each site-specific implementation.

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Made in Kenya 2023

Produced by Save the Elephants

www.savetheelephants.org

Illustrations by Nicola Heath