Karnataka: Now, STPF personnel can take up rescue operations with confidence

Chamarajanagar: A tiger, which was expected to be in a slumber after being shot with tranquiliser darts, jumped over a stream in the blink of an eye, darted across 30 feet and sank its teeth into a range forest officer involved in its rescue recently.

The RFO, Rudresh, survived the attack with only minor injuries. But the incident exposed the threat to life and limbs faced by the personnel of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF), who venture our regularly on operations to rescue leopards and tigers that stray out of forest areas.

To reduce the risk to the STPF personnel, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) recently donated safety equipment like latest helmets, body armours, chest pads and shields, to protect them from wild animal attacks and also from unruly mobs.

"It is a good move by the WTI to donate safety kits to our personnel, who can now go on rescue operations with a touch of confidence. With these aids, we can also protect ourselves from unruly mobs, who sometimes take on forest personnel during rescue operations," said Mr Rudresh.

Assistant Conservator of Forests, STPF, Shankaregowda, told Deccan Chronicle that the new equipment will help protecting the personnel to some extent, but will not ensure full safety when wild animals come charging at them. "The safety aids are similar to those given to the CRPF personnel and are lightweight. Our personnel needed them," he said.

Field Officer of WTI, Mr Nagaraj Bhat, said that the personnel can carry out rescue operations methodically, using these latest equipment and can keep themselves and the stray animals safe.

Head of Wild Rescue, WTI, Abhishek Narayanan said that the STPF personnel will be trained in the use of these equipment through mock drills that will focus on planning and execution of successful captures.