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So, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has been giving people new tools to keepthe elephants away: vuvuzelas. They are plastic instruments some fans useat sports events.
The instruments make a loud sound elephants do not like. The animals leave, and no one is harmed.
A spokesperson for the Uganda Wildlife Authority says vuvuzelas workbecause they do not threaten the elephants. That is important because anelephant that feels threatened is more likely to attack. So far, no one hasreported an elephant attacking in answer to a vuvuzela.
Officials and villagers have tried other ways to stop elephants from comingnear farms and houses. They have built beehives – houses for flying insectsthat sting. They have hung ropes covered in spicy oil. They have dug long,deep holes.
And they have used guns, called A-K47s.
An official from the Uganda Wildlife Authority explains that people shoot thegun in the air to scare the elephant. But over time, the elephants have stoppedbeing afraid of the sound of the gun. They only look at the shooter and wavetheir ears.
Another official for the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Gessa Simblicious, saysone elephant-prevention solution will not work everywhere in Uganda. Andone day, elephants may accept the vuvuzela noise, just as they do the soundof the A-K47.
But right now, vuvuzelas are an effective, non-violent and fun way to deal witha serious problem.
I’m Jim Tedder.
Lizabeth Paulat reported this story. Kelly Jean Kelly wrote it for VOA LearningEnglish. Mario Ritter was the editor.
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Words in This Story
wildlife – n. animals living in nature; wild animals
beehives – n. nests for bees
solution - n. something that solves a problem
