The aggressive driving operation, which reportedly resulted in an injury to a wild elephant due to bursting of firecrackers, has stirred a controversy
Kochi : The forest department’s attempt to drive away a herd of wild elephants in the Konnakudy forest station in Chalakudy on Wednesday has brought forth questions regarding proper training imparted to the department’s field staff.
The aggressive driving operation, which reportedly resulted in an injury to a wild elephant due to bursting of firecrackers, has stirred a controversy. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in Kochi Stay updated with the latest Kochi news.
We have asked the staff not to resort to aggressiveness to drive away the elephants in future,” said Chalakudy DFO M Venkiteswaran. Rapid response team (RRT) officials said that there is laxity on the part of the state forest department in providing training to new members. If the animal is seen having food or water, it should be allowed to finish it and then go back,” said a RRT official in Wayanad.
Amid this, Chalakudy DFO admitted to the failure on the part of the field staff involved in the operation and instructed them to avoid aggressiveness in such operations in future. It should not have happened. “We could have avoided any conflict with wild elephants which stray into human habitations if we show some tolerance towards them. What we have noticed is that the nature of the elephant is to take shelter in some shaded places when it enters the human habitation and return to the forest through the same route when it gets dark. However, people are not tolerant enough to let the animal wait until it gets dark. He added that with the el Nino conditions likely to accelerate the human-wildlife conflicts, it is high time the forest department strengthen the primary RRTs which comprises residents. Download the TOI App.
“The same herd of wild elephants were trying to enter the fragmented forest day before the incident happened.