Jamshedpur: Dalma forest authorities have formed a quick response team that moves around in a GPS-fitted vehicle to respond to emergencies faced by tourists visiting the sprawling Dalma sanctuary.
The quick response team (QRT), that began operating four days back, comprises foresters, guards and trackers, who are usually residents of nearby villages who are employed on daily wage to keep tabs on the movement of elephants and other animals.
"We have equipped a forest jeep with GPS for helping the team members. Besides tourists, the QRT is also meant to help villagers, who reside within the sanctuary. When elephants go on the rampage, these are the villagers whose houses are damaged and who stand to lose standing crops," said Dalma range officer R.P. Singh.
According to him, GPS would provide the precise location of incidents and make it easier for the team to respond efficiently. "Navigation becomes swift and our team can reach the spot without wasting much time," he added.
Man-animal confidents are a regular phenomenon at the 192sq km sanctuary and its periphery. "Tourists venture into the sanctuary in good numbers. There is every possibility that they can come across a herd of elephants that might attack them. The presence of a QRT can help in these situations. There are trained team members who know how to chase away elephants or other animals," a Dalma range office staff said.
He said villagers often found themselves at the receiving end when elephants destroyed their standing crops and homes. "They just cannot do anything under such circumstances. They try to chase away herds by lighting up fire torches and bursting crackers. But these methods do not always prove fruitful. QRT also becomes essential in such emergencies," he explained.
He said there were 35 members in the QRT and that they worked on rotation. "The newly-appointed forest guards are also part of the team. These guards are deployed in their respective beats inside the sanctuary and are required for QRT as per rotation," the staffer added.
