Man-animal conflict: Rapid Response Teams formed in Odisha, mock drill to rescue animals in distress held

The forest department has constituted Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to address various issues arising out of man-animal conflicts as well as rescue animals in distress.

About 18 dedicated RRTs comprising 10 personnel in each team for six divisions have been constituted in Odisha. A mock drill was conducted at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.

All the personnel were imparted training on using various equipment and handling various types of animals and other related aspects, sources said. The first phase of training of the rapid response team was completed yesterday. One team will be solely deployed at Nandankanan Zoo.

The team members are being trained on the use of tranquiliser and handling other equipment to deal with any emergency situation.

“The RRTs constituted for circle level and training has been given to personnel on how to use personnel protective gears, tracking and monitoring equipment, veterinary equipment and other items. The teams will be used for rescue of animals in distress including leopards, sloth bears, tigers and other small and big herbivorous animals,” said a senior official.