Members of the Slovenian Army could be seen along the Dragonja River these days removing the so-called technical barriers i.e. the razor wire fence. Soldiers were also setting the foundations for a "friendlier" panel fence, which already stands at some other border sections with Croatia. A total of 167 kilometers of temporary technical barriers have been put up along the border with Croatia.

Putting up panel fences represents a bigger burden for the budget than erecting the wire fences. "The purchase and total costs of putting up the more than 160 kilometers of temporary technical barriers (wire fences) stand at around 2,8 million euros. The so far purchased and erected 11 kilometers of panel fences stand an additional 1,1 million euros," is the information MMC received from the Government Communication Office (Ukom).

"We said many times in the past that we would, and we have now removed the technical barriers near passage points, residential areas, tourist destinations, as well as in areas where higher water levels could jeopardize the fences. In some of those place we have replaced the wire fence with a panel fence," is Ukom's explanation on how much panel fencing would replace the wire fences.

So far more than 11 kilometers of temporary technical barriers at the border have been replaced with panel fencing. The replacement of the fences continues in accordance with a previously adopted plan. Panel fences have been put up, or are being put up, in areas under the jurisdiction of the Maribor and Novo Mesto police directorates. That is in the municipalities of Črnomelj, Metlika, Brežice, Ormož, Podlehnik, Zavrč, and as we already mentioned above along the Dragonja River.

The replacement of the wire fencing with panel fencing is being carried out by members of the police and Slovenian Army, in cooperation with the Minis company – an independent contractor which was also involved in putting up the wire fence.

Ten deer died in the fence
The panel fence is supposed to be friendlier to wild animals. Several animals tragically died getting caught up in the razor wire fence. The first "victim" of the wire fence fell at the end of November in the area of the Mokrice hunting club. According to information from the Slovenian Hunters Association there have been ten reported animal deaths because of the fence – one stag, one roe deer and eight doe.

G. C.; translated by J. K.