http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Animal-rescue-missions-get-a-rapid-response/articleshow/15397446.cms
LUCKNOW: At a time when man-animal conflicts are increasing, sticking to obsolete methods for rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals can worsen the situation. The forest department knows the importance of modern equipment in such rescue operations, but is always short of funds to procure them.
Realising the financial limitations of the forest department, an NGO, Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT), has gifted the department a modern rescue vehicle. WCT has given the vehicle as a part of its corporate and social responsibility.
The vehicle, called Rapid Response Unit, is stationed at Lucknow zoo. As the name goes, the vehicle is meant for quick response by forest and wildlife teams in times of crisis.
"Immediately after it came, the vehicle was used in the rescue operation in Pratapgarh to control the conflict where a stray leopard had gone unruly," said Rupak De, APCCF, Wildlife and chief wildlife warden, UP. "The vehicle's cost is about Rs 17 lakh. Since, we have added equipment to it, the cost has gone up to some Rs 22 lakh," he added.
The biggest advantage of a rescue vehicle is that it's equipped with features that can speed up the rescue operations. Apart from two tranquilising guns ready with supportive drugs (required for darting an animal), it has several add-ons as well. "The best part is that it's always ready and can be driven to the place of conflict immediately," said zoo director Renu Singh.
The department, till now, used an ordinary truck as a rescue vehicle, with an enclosure attached to it for transporting the rescued animal. If the rescued animal was injured, its treatment was possible only after it was taken to a veterinary unit. Since veterinary units at the district level are generally ill-equipped, the injured animal had to be brought to Lucknow zoo for treatment.
But, with the Rapid Response Unit in operation, a rescued animal can now be given immediate treatment as the vehicle is equipped with a treatment kit. The rescue operations in the state have so far been messy. The divisions facing the man-animal conflicts take time in arranging everything, right from tranquillising guns to the enclosures.
Such operations will, however, become swift now as the Rapid Response Unit has everything ready at one place.
The vehicle has been designed keeping in mind the rescued animals as well as the rigors faced by the rescue teams. The vehicle is equipped with blankets and mosquito nets, folding cots, search lights and generators to make it easy for the rescue teams. The biggest challenge, however, before the department is to keep the vehicle in ready-to-use mode.
LUCKNOW: At a time when man-animal conflicts are increasing, sticking to obsolete methods for rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals can worsen the situation. The forest department knows the importance of modern equipment in such rescue operations, but is always short of funds to procure them.
Realising the financial limitations of the forest department, an NGO, Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT), has gifted the department a modern rescue vehicle. WCT has given the vehicle as a part of its corporate and social responsibility.
The vehicle, called Rapid Response Unit, is stationed at Lucknow zoo. As the name goes, the vehicle is meant for quick response by forest and wildlife teams in times of crisis.
"Immediately after it came, the vehicle was used in the rescue operation in Pratapgarh to control the conflict where a stray leopard had gone unruly," said Rupak De, APCCF, Wildlife and chief wildlife warden, UP. "The vehicle's cost is about Rs 17 lakh. Since, we have added equipment to it, the cost has gone up to some Rs 22 lakh," he added.
The biggest advantage of a rescue vehicle is that it's equipped with features that can speed up the rescue operations. Apart from two tranquilising guns ready with supportive drugs (required for darting an animal), it has several add-ons as well. "The best part is that it's always ready and can be driven to the place of conflict immediately," said zoo director Renu Singh.
The department, till now, used an ordinary truck as a rescue vehicle, with an enclosure attached to it for transporting the rescued animal. If the rescued animal was injured, its treatment was possible only after it was taken to a veterinary unit. Since veterinary units at the district level are generally ill-equipped, the injured animal had to be brought to Lucknow zoo for treatment.
But, with the Rapid Response Unit in operation, a rescued animal can now be given immediate treatment as the vehicle is equipped with a treatment kit. The rescue operations in the state have so far been messy. The divisions facing the man-animal conflicts take time in arranging everything, right from tranquillising guns to the enclosures.
Such operations will, however, become swift now as the Rapid Response Unit has everything ready at one place.
The vehicle has been designed keeping in mind the rescued animals as well as the rigors faced by the rescue teams. The vehicle is equipped with blankets and mosquito nets, folding cots, search lights and generators to make it easy for the rescue teams. The biggest challenge, however, before the department is to keep the vehicle in ready-to-use mode.
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