A 24-hour, toll-free helpline was launched by the forest department on Saturday. A special task force to prevent poaching has also been set up.
The Indian silverbill found in the Aravallis
The Gurgaon forest department on Saturday launched a toll-free helpline where people can call to seek information on the rescue of distressed wildlife in the eco-sensitive Aravallis. The helpline — 18001030562 — can be accessed round the clock.
The department also recently set up a six-member special task force to patrol the Aravalli region and protect wildlife from poachers. The team is expected to help curtail poaching and illegal tree-felling in the region.
According to officials, tenders have also been floated to buy drones to patrol the forest areas.
The six-member special task force includes inspector Sunil Kumar (in-charge), Dr Ashok Khasa (veterinary surgeon, wildlife), inspector Om Prakash, inspector Devender Kumar, inspector Surjeet Singh and Krishan Kumar (wildlife guard).
“After the December 8 incident, in which a peacock was found with its legs caught in a metal trap near the Tata Raisina Residency in the Aravallis, we sent out teams to the area and had all traps laid by tribal people removed," said Vinod Kumar, chief conservator of forest, wildlife Gurgaon.
"The task force will carry out patrolling three days a week and a report will be submitted after each patrolling,” he added. "The team will monitor and patrol the Aravalli villages at night, when poachers are most active.”
The traps laid by the tribals in the Aravallis were spotted by a few residents near the region and environmentalists, who met the Union environment minister in December about the issue. They were assured action would be taken against those involved in poaching.
The state forest department also received a letter from the Centre, seeking a status report on the formation of a task force to curb poaching. The forest and wildlife department then met Haryana’s forest and wildlife minister Rao Narbir Singh in January, in which Singh ordered the formation of a task force.
"Clear instructions were given to the officials that if anyone was found involved in poaching, he or she would be nabbed and punished,” Singh added.
The task force found no illegal activity during its first patrol last Tuesday night. “We saw a jackal, blue bull, hare, jungle cat and porcupine, and all the animals seemed healthy,” said Dr Ashok Khasa, veterinary surgeon.
