HYDERABAD: The state forest department has identified 107 interior forest areas in the state for an action plan to protect the forests and the wildlife there. Trained staff will be deputed to the forests with adequate transport facilities and equipment to rescue animals and protect the areas.A recent meeting of the department has decided to launch the project, Effective Conservation of Wildlife and Forests, in January, according to A Shankaran, deputy conservator of forests. “The department will receive Rs 22 crore from the central government under the CAMPA scheme to implement the project," he says.Fifty-five mobile teams, each consisting of five members including a section officer, with jeeps will be deputed to forests situated near national animal reserve areas, sanctuaries and parks. About 300 Chenchu tribesmen will be hired to help the teams in their task.The project will focus on the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Qawali Tiger Reserve Forest and other important forest areas where animals are coming out of the forest due to deforestation and straying into villages. The teams will rescue those animals from people and release them back in the forests. The number of animal rescue vans will be increased from six to 12 before March next year. "We plan to have as many as 25 animal rescue vans. The decision to provide well-equipped rescue teams was taken after recent deaths of wild animals due to accidents or being beaten up by villagers when they stray from their habitats,'' Shankaran says. “The van contains a stretcher, four cotton nets, two rope ladders, an attachable ladder, transport cage, hydraulic lift, heating device and oxygen cylinders,” says M Raja Ramana Reddy of the anti-poaching squad.
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