Tranquilising the big cat: WTI to train state forest officials

Posted online: Wednesday, Jan 13, 2010 at 0504 hrs

Lucknow : Experts from the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) will now train state forest department officials on the technique of tranquilising big cats that stray away from the forest areas.

“The training will ensure that the forest department reacts quickly in such situations. WTI experts will train the foresters and deputy rangers. The Forest department will be on alert and with trained vet experts, their response time in emergency situations will be quicker,” said Sanjay Pathak, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Dudhwa National Park.

The training will be imparted to around 30 foresters and deputy rangers from Sitapur, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Dudhwa National Park, Katerniaghat, Shahjahapur, North and South Kheri forest department.

“These are the areas where the tiger is likely to stray into after moving out of Dudhwa and Lakhimpur Kheri. So, we are focusing on these areas first,” said Pathak. Presently, there are no trained veterinary experts with the forest department in these areas, except for the Dudhwa National Park.

“They will also be given information about the behaviour of the animal. Regular refresher courses will be conducted for them between March and May,” said Pathak.

The veterinary officials of the Animal Husbandry department of Bareily, Bahraich, Shahjahanpur and Sitapur will also receive training to better handle the stray animals.

“We are also training them to reduce the reaction time during emergency situations. The training of vets from other areas will be held in March,” said Pathak.

Last year, a tigress had strayed into Faizabad and Pilibhit killing five people on way, before being declared a man-eater and shot dead.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/566863/

http://bigcatrescue.org