The Forests Department has constituted an Animal Rescue Team to quickly capture and release back into forests the wild animals that stray into human habitations.
Officials said the creation of the team gains significance in the light of a spike in the number of animals straying close to human habitations this year, as a result of the extremely dry weather and a lack of water and fodder in the forests.
Forest Department officials said the teams would also rescue the wildlife trapped in forest fire. Department officials said that for the time being, the teams would work towards rescuing small animals and reptiles, and that they were being given specialised training. They are to work in tandem with members of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) that has already been constituted in the Nilgiris.
The 10-member team set up recently is being given training to safely handle snakes and other reptiles, as well as capture small mammals like the sloth bear and deer.
“We plan to strengthen the animal rescue teams and recruit more personnel, so that they could be stationed in the towns of Udhagamandalam, Coonoor and Kotagiri to rescue wildlife,” said District Forest Officer, Nilgiris Division, Mr. Guruswamy. Specialised equipment for the safe capture of animals and reptiles, such as snakes, and nets for capturing bigger animals would be purchased by the department and given to the team.