Finding no respite for the ill- fate of the wild animals straying
into populated areas, Kerala forest department has issued a renewed set of
guidelines to its officials, expressing concern over the unscientific way in which
wild animals are handled and treated in the state.
The circular urges the officials to make sure that the
animals are captured in scientific ways. It also urges the officials to make
sure that it is not infected with any diseases and to make sure that they are released
to the exact natural habitat.
Increasing animal deaths
The new circular was issued in the back drop of increasing
incidents in which mobs kill wild animals that have straying into populated
areas. According to unofficial estimates, at least four leopards succumbed to
their wounds inflicted by the mob during the last three months in different parts
of Kerala when the animals were spotted in human populated areas.
The new guidelines points out that, experts can be deployed
to catch certain types of animals, but in all instances a veterinary expert
should be present and it should be certified that the animal is healthy before
setting it free to its natural habitat. Though such instances are less reported
from the state, the circular also urges the officials to stick to National
Tiger Conservation Authority guidelines, if the straying animal is a tiger.
The real issues still untouched
It is the recent animal deaths that made the department to
emphasis the existing guidelines by polishing it up. However, the guidelines largely
ignores many of the recurring issues which causes mammals straying into
populated areas die before or soon after they are rescued, in some cases after
attacking at least some local people.
Such incidents often involve a lot of fear -on both sides –
among the public and in the animal. In this scenario, large scale conflict
occur, often the mob pelting stones at the animal, using sharpened objects to
injure it than trying to catch it in a cage. The scared animal also attacks
onlookers who are closer. In short, by the time the forest authorities capture
the animal, it will be half dead and it has become a routine that such animals
succumb to their wounds in hours.
New guidelines issued by Kerala Forest Department for handling and rescuing wild animals |
Though the new guidelines emphasis on the need to stick to
scientific method, it does not carry any instruction on how to avoid the
injuries inflicted on the animal. In fact, there is an urgent need to systematize
the mob control in case of animal wandering into human inhabited areas. It will
considerably reduce the chances of animal death by mob attack and the animal
attacking the public.
Faster response time and timely availability of efficient equipment like tranquilizers or cages are other factors which affect the successful implementation of these guidelines. Apart from that, there is a need to create more awareness
to the public about not attacking the animals to cause injuries on both sides. Forest staff should also be trained to handle such incidents of emergency.
Unless such changes are made, wild animals accidently
reaching inhabited areas in the state will have the same fate.
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