KOZHIKODE: Forest minister AK Saseendran announced a series of steps to address the escalating man-animal conflicts in Wayanad.
This includes efforts to prepare a joint action plan in consultation with neighbouring states, eradication of invasive plant Senna spectabilis from the forests via a Rs 45 crore project and augmenting rapid response teams (RRTs) in the district.
Speaking at the all-party meet at Wayanad collectorate on Monday in the wake of recurring animal attacks, he said that the government was planning to prepare a joint action plan to ascertain the population of wildlife and mitigate man-animal conflicts after holding talks with TN and Karnataka which share boundaries with Wayanad's forests.
Saseendran said the 344 sq km Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the 12,000 sq km contiguous forests spread across three states and since wild animals move between forests, any effort to scientifically take their count (including tiger, elephants) and prevent them from straying into human habitats is possible only through coordination between all states.
He said that the draft of a comprehensive master plan to provide a lasting solution to man-animal conflicts in the district will be ready by Jan 31. The master plan will have short-term and long-term measures to address the issue and the draft will be finalized after holding talks with various stakeholders and people's representatives.
To improve food availability for animals inside forests, immediate steps will be taken to uproot and remove Senna spectabilis (invasive plant) from forests. Government has earmarked Rs 45 crore for the project that will take nearly five years. The initiative will begin in two weeks, said Saseendran, adding that monoculture teak and eucalyptus plantations would be replaced with natural forests.
Steps will be taken to augment RRTs by increasing the number of personnel and providing them the needed equipment and arms. Forest department will also appoint 175 forest staff in the district. The minister said the department will consider shifting some tigers housed at Sultan Bathery's animal hospice to Parambikulam and Periyar sanctuaries if there is a need to accommodate new tigers at the centre.
The all-party meeting asked the government to ascertain if there was a population increase in forests that is beyond its carrying capacity. Saseendran said that there was an increase in wild animal attacks in the last three years. "The increase in population of wild animals, changes in forest ecosystem, decrease in food availability inside forests are some factors that are forcing wildlife to stray into human habitats," he said.
Meanwhile BJP boycotted the meeting saying that it was a farce. Tempers have been running high in the district following the death of a farmer after a tiger attack on Friday.
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