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The Hindu
a day ago
- General
- The Hindu
Farmers call for coordinated action by Central and State governments for mitigation of human-wildlife conflict
Conveying their concern over the persistence of wildlife-human conflict, farmers' associations in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts have urged the Central and State governments to get their acts together to mitigate the problem. While the Union government must launch a centralised helpline, the State government has to equip the forest personnel with walkie-talkies and other paraphernalia to address the issue, the Tamil Nadu Farmers' Protection Association has emphasised. Citing the recurring instances of human deaths due to attack by elephants in recent months, Eesan Murugasamy, Founder, Tamil Nadu Farmers' Protection Association, said the victims mainly constitute farmers and agricultural workers. The helpline will enable farmers to alert the Forest Department about presence of wild animals outside forest boundaries without loss of time, paving way for prompt action before damage is caused to humans and agricultural crops, Mr. Murugasamy said. Likewise, forest personnel at the field level must be equipped with wireless walkie-talkies for ease of communication with superior officers while patrolling in the forest areas. Farmers in Udumalpet in Tiruppur district and Mettupalayam-Karamadai belt of Coimbatore district who have been facing substantial losses due to damages caused to agricultural and horticultural crops by wild animals called for a decisive categorisation of wild pigs that venture out of the forest areas and destroy crops, and herds that move deep into human habitation and stays put in thickets, in management of human-wildlife conflict. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, it is learnt, has initiated action for establishment of a Centre of Excellence for human-wildlife conflict management, to find amicable solutions through advanced technologies, including AI, for management of human-wildlife conflicts. Based on interactions with the stakeholders, the ministry has decided to develop appropriate strategies for plausible actions to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. An advisory to deal with human wildlife conflict issued by the ministry during 2021 recommends coordinated interdepartmental action, identification of conflict hotspots, adherence to standard operating procedures, establishment of rapid response teams, formation of State and district level committees to review the quantum of ex-gratia relief, issuing guidance and instructions for expedited payments, and provision of adequate funds for ex-gratia relief to be paid to the affected persons in the case of death and injury. Species-specific guidelines were issued during 2023 for mitigation of conflicts arising from various wild animals: elephant, gaur, leopard, snake, crocodile, Rhesus Macaque, wild pig, bear, blue bull and blackbuck.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Fruits of freedom: Forest dept to grow trees to make monkeys fetch own food
New Delhi: The forest department is planting more fruit and foliage tree species to support the growing population of monkeys at Asola Wildlife Sanctuary . Currently, the department invests heavily in providing fruits and vegetables to sustain the existing Rhesus Macaque population. However, officials noted that to promote the species' self-sufficiency and independence, their reliance on human-provided food must be reduced. At present, the department supplies about 2,500 kg of fruits and vegetables daily at 13 feeding points within Asola. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi A significant portion of the monkey population in Asola consists of relocated animals. Although exact records are unavailable, at least 25,000 rhesus monkeys have been moved from various parts of the city to Asola over the past decade. These relocated monkeys, now settled and provided with food in their natural habitat, have multiplied. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Her body cannot endure this level of pain; please help her. Donate For Health Learn More Undo "The relocation process began around 2009. Over the years, approximately 25,000 monkeys were sent to Asola. While the forest already had a large monkey population, the relocated ones mated and increased in number. Now, Asola has a sizable monkey population that requires feeding," explained a forest official. To ensure the monkeys have enough food, they are provided with a variety of fruits. This is to prevent them from returning to urban areas from which they were relocated. The monkeys are currently fed fresh supplies of bananas, musk melons, papaya, watermelon, cucumbers, tomatoes, and seasonal fruits like guava. The forest department collaborates with Mother Dairy to supply the 2,500 kg of fruits delivered daily at feeding points. Although the relocation continues, officials are also planting more suitable tree species to support the monkeys' natural diet. "The monkeys are often caught by MCD or rescued and, after treatment, are released in Asola. To ensure they adapt to their natural surroundings, we are planting a mix of ridge, foliage, and fruit-bearing trees, including amla, goolar, sehtoot, desi babool, kusum, guava, lasoda, kathal, bistendu, dhak, aam, and bel," an official said. While the department did not disclose the exact cost of feeding the monkeys, an estimate in 2015 suggested the monthly expense to be around Rs 8 lakh.
