Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Forest Department has started a special training programme for its personnel regarding proper utilization of modern equipment to reduce the rising human-animal conflict.
The training session is currently underway at the Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar.
The forest personnel were imparted training regarding the use of a hundred types of modern equipment including gun, trap cameras and range finders etc.
The department has constituted rapid response teams for 18 forest divisions. It consists of six young personnel staff and a ranger-level officer as the team leader. The team will reach the spot within 1 to 1.5 hours of receiving the call and take appropriate action.
The team can capture any wild animals by using modern equipment.
“We are providing the hardware and software training to the unit members. We will provide customized vehicles by which the units can carry cages and other equipment. By 1st of April, we will operationalize all the18 teams,” said Chief Wildlife Warden Susant Nanda.
The department claimed that wild animals will not get harmed in the use of these equipment.
It is expected that the team will start working from April after the training is completed by March. Rapid Response Team is imparted practical training and theory in Bhubaneswar:
“The training will boost the confidence of our personnel and response time will lessen. The equipment will also bring less harm to the animals,” said Debidutta Biswal, PCCF.
