As human populations and demand for space continues to grow, people and wildlife are increasingly competing for resources leading to increased human-wildlife conflicts. Animals in such cases are captured and sentenced to a life inside enclosures.
Species like barking deer, sambhar deer, nilgai, and various bird species, often found injured are rescued by forest officials for treatment at Veterinary Hospitals. Due to paucity of hospital beds the wild animals are kept in a confinement.
Facing this situation, IFS officer Yashu Deep Singh who is the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Nalagarh Forest Division, Himachal Pradesh has created a Divisional Wildlife Centre so that the department could manage the conflict.
DIVISIONAL WILDIFE CENTRE
Most of the time it is observed that after preliminary treatment by veterinary doctor the animal is required to be kept under observation for a day or two before recovery and release back into the forests. Also, transportation of the wild animals to Zoos located at long distances, that too for minor injuries which can be treated in a day or two, is not recommended by the veterinary doctors due to ill effects of transportation involving such long journeys.
Speaking with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Singh said, “The forest department with Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds in 2021-22 created divisional wildlife centre for these purposes in consultation with veterinary doctors as well as created a place for keeping wildlife rescue equipment, wildlife conservation equipment all at one place.”
EQUIPMENT
The equipments which are available in the divisional wildlife centre are, snake capture equipment like snake bite gloves, arm and leg guard, shoes, kit, carrying rag, armour suit, nylon net, harness and helmets.
Besides, the centre also has flash light, night searcher, flood lights, force ranger search lights, animal detector, air blow pipe gun, tranquilizer gun, smart stick, camera trap, monocular, post mortem kit, cutter and first aid kit.
Thus, serving dual purpose this divisional centre acts as a center where wildlife rescue equipment, wildlife conservation equipment, first aid kits, equipment to treat primary injuries to wild animals etc. has been kept as well as a place for safely keeping the wildlife temporarily in emergency cases for better management of wildlife-related conflicts or wildlife accidents.
