Animal rescue operations in the city seem to have taken a back seat, with the services of 27 honorary volunteers terminated recently. They have been replaced by six wildlife conservationists.
A circular issued by Appa Rao, the newly appointed Deputy Conservator of Forests, BBMP Forest Cell, took strong exception to reports of volunteers rescuing animals in the city, especially birds and snakes, and resorting to “extortion” of the public.
Issuing the order on June 9, the DCF scrapped the appointment of 27 wildlife volunteers made earlier by the BBMP Commissioner. In order to limit the inconvenience this might cause, the Forest Cell appointed a team of six wildlife conservationists and authorised them to handle animal rescue operations across the city.
Manpower shortage
But this has led to total chaos as the newly appointed conservationists cannot handle the rescue calls from all the divisions by themselves, sources said. This has hampered rescue of animals and birds in distress and is also causing inconvenience to people.
Earlier, a team of eight persons, including an environment adviser, had been appointed for each of the eight divisions in the city to attend the rescue calls, sources said.
“Even now we get many rescue calls from people, but we divert them to the Forest Cell as we are scared to help people fearing legal action,” said a volunteer, whose service was terminated recently. “The official accused us of extortion and illegal trade, and warned us of dire consequences if we were found involved in rescue operations,” a volunteer alleged.