Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu will hunt wild boars 5 km away from reserved forest area

CHENNAI: Forest Minister M Mathiventhan on Tuesday told the Assembly that the government will hunt wild boars that are damaging agricultural crops beyond 5 km from reserve forests.

TNIE recently reported about the decision, which was taken at the Farmers Conflict Resolution Committee. The committee has submitted its recommendations, which will now be put through for circulation. Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Agriculture Department, Revenue Department and Environment and Forest Department will give their comment before a Government Order is passed.

Mathiventhan said conflict areas will be divided into three different zones — A,B & C. Zone A is within 1 km from the forest boundary, Zone B is 1 km to 5 km and Zone C is 5 km and above.

Wild boars will not be disturbed in Zone A and the department will capture and relocate wild boars in Zone B. Hunting orders will be given by the jurisdictional district forest officer depending on suggestions by the local village committee, which will comprise of ward councillor, VAO and forester/guard.

Meanwhile, the forest department is also implementing several other measures to tackle human-wildlife conflict.

Chief Minister MK Stalin had launched India’s first-ever Elephant Death Audit Framework to conduct a detailed analysis of the death of elephants in the wild to understand issues relating to unnatural and preventable deaths and prescribe suitable management interventions.

To prevent the unnatural death of wild animals especially elephants by country made explosives, a district level committee was constituted. The panel ensures the prevention of illegal supply of explosives and setting up of illegal electric lines.

Among the new initiatives, the forest department proposes to deploy unmanned drones to keep elephants from wandering onto railway tracks and causing accidents. Drone equipped with loud speakers are proposed to be deployed in Madukkarai Forest, Coimbatore at a cost of Rs 8.28 cr under Modernisation of Forest Force Scheme.

The government had sanctioned Rs 10 cr towards setting up real time monitoring system to monitor movement of elephant herds by strengthening alert mechanisms and address human-elephant conflict under TANII Scheme.

The government constituted two committees for submissions of reports on consolidated viable elephant corridors in Tamil Nadu to ensure free movement of elephants between different habitats.

Questions were also raised on permanent constructions made by Isha in Coimbatore inside the elephant corridor. In reply, the minister said experts were studying all the viable elephant corridors.