Squads seek proper logistics to drive away wild animalsForesters threaten strike

TT, 14 November 2019, Jalpaiguri: Forest department personnel engaged to ward off wild animals from human habitats in Jalpaiguri district have threatened to skip duties from November 18 if their demand to improve the logistics and increase the manpower is not met by then.

The strike threat was issued by the members of four wildlife squads in Malbazar, Khunia, Binnaguri and Ramsai, which are located on the fringes of reserve forests. The squads are comprised of range officers, deputy rangers, forest guards and others.

"We had raised demands for improvement in infrastructure, allocation of equipment and increase in manpower before our senior officers. But none of the demands has been met. Squad members are finding it tough to deliver their duties and at times, they are even facing people's wrath. We Members of a wildlife squad in a tea garden. File picture want to make it clear that if the demands are not met, we will stop attending duties from November 18," said Bijoy Dhar, the Jalpaiguri district convener of Trinamul-backed Paschimbanga Rajya Sarkari Karmachari Federation (Forest Wing).

The squads, which are equipped with vehicles, dart guns, nets and traps, are assigned with the responsibility of driving wild animals, particularly elephants, into forests from human habitats. The squads are also called in to place traps to catch wild animals.

"It would be a huge problem if the squads stop functioning. They operate in areas like tea gardens where elephants and leopards are found frequently. We don't know how such situations can be handled if the squad members cease work. The remaining forest staff are engaged in the protection and the conservation of the flora and fauna," a senior forester said.

The quad members said vehicles were rickety and guns were old.

"The squads are understaffed and cannot handle man-animal conflicts at multiple locations at the same time. We have no other option than the strike. We also informed the district magistrate about the decision," said a forest ranger.

Vipan Sood, the additional principal chief conservator of forests (north Bengal), said: "I had taken up the issue with higher officers, but it would take some time for the state government to meet the demands. We would urge our employees not to stop work. In case a wild animal enters a human habitat, the strike will complicate the situation.".