Farmers in Cameroon have expressed doubts over a UN suggestion to use pepper spray guns to stop stampeding elephants destroying crops.
Frightened villagers often respond to attacks by killing the animals.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation says plastic guns that fire ping-pong balls of chilli would be a non-lethal way of dealing with their attacks.
But given elephants' memories and unpredictability, farmers told the BBC they feared the policy was dangerous.
The FAO says the chilli balls "will send a bull elephant running for cover at over 50 yards".
Anstasie Eyenga Nanou, a 34-year-old farmer outside the capital, Yaounde, was sceptical.
"I fear elephants are unpredictable and can attack human beings - and how much pepper would you need to attack a herd?" he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
Besong Godwin, the son of a farmer in south-west Cameroon, agreed it was a risky strategy.
"If you come face to face with elephants... they know when you are the enemy," he said.
"We have seen hunters who have been killed by animals especially in our area where we come from.
"So pepper spray will not be any good to us African farmers," he said. ...
via BBC News - Cameroon farmers doubt elephant chilli ball idea.
I believe the man and the elephant can live side by side in peace. After all, ebony and ivory live together in perfect, harmony.... side by side on my piano keyboard.. oh lord, why can't these?
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