Guest guest Posted October 23, 2005 Report Share Posted October 23, 2005 http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEP20051022072747 & Page=P & Title=Natio\ n & Topic=0 Choppers to drive away rampaging tuskers Sunday October 23 2005 00:00 IST IANS RANCHI: With shrinking forest cover and human encroachment of elephant habitat leading to increasing confrontations between man and pachyderm, the Jharkhand forest department has proposed the use of helicopters to deal with rampaging tuskers in the state. The state's forest officials admitted that they do not have the requisite means to tackle the elephants when they enter human settlements. Hence they have taken a cue from South Africa, where choppers are used to drive tuskers away when they stray into villages near the forests. " We are demanding a chopper from the state government to help the people. The chopper will be sent immediately to the affected areas whenever elephants attack people, " R.K. Zutshi, principal chief forest officer, told IANS, adding that " the proposal has been sent to the state government " . The department has also proposed the formation of motorcycle squads in different forest regions of the state to assist people in dealing with the elephant menace. It has also directed officials to supply tranquillisers and shooting guns to the regions where the elephants have caused the most damage. The districts of Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Pakur and Dumka have been the worst hit in the last 10 years. The rampaging tuskers have killed more than 300 people in the state in last five years alone, while 63 elephants have been killed in the last four years to curb their destructive behaviour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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