A Leopard fell into a well in Nauwa Village about 70 kms from Udaipur district in Rajasthan. The villagers reported this matter to the forest department but There was no sign of the rescue team for long. After the team reached to the spot where the Leopard was fighting a lost battle, The people were relieved that the leopard would be saved. But no one would have imagined the fate of the poor leopard.
The Team of Forest Officials started their work. Rescuing an animal from the well needed some experts, who could lay a plan to save the animal. But there seemed to be no expert or any doctor present at the spot.
The Plan: Pull the Leopard out of the well by tieing a rope around its body.
Chaman Singh, A Forest Official said that we cannot tranquilise the leopard as it might drown.
What actually Happened: The rescue operation started as was planned. A rope was tied along the body of the Leopard which later slipped and formed a noose around the poor animals neck. The animal was then pulled out of the well and was put in a Cage. Initially the Leopard was in a state of shock and later it died in the Gulab Bagh Zoo in Udaipur.
The post mortem report indicates that hunger, anaemia and shock are the other plausible reasons for its death.
What should have been done: In an interview, Mike Pandey, Wildlife Expert and Documentary Film Maker, suggested a better and a correct way that should have been applied to save the Leopard’s life. As we all know, Leopards can climb trees and poles, He suggested that a big log or a long wooden plank should have been placed near the Leopard and it could have come out on its own.
Some doctors also say that the Rescue team should have taken more precautions while pulling the animal out. They should have given it support with a plank or cot while pulling it out.
The investigation will be over.. The cause will be known.. But I have some questions..
- Why was a team which was not trained for such operations sent to the spot.. ??
- Why wasn't a doctor present at the spot.. ??
- And who should be held responsible for this loss.. ??
Whatever may be the cause of the Leopard death.. The fact is that we have lost One more.
Photo of another Leopard killed. (Not of the leopard in the above post)
In a country where these Big Cats are fighting for their lives every moment, Every Death is a BIG BIG LOSS..
9 comments:
All your concerns are well meaning and genuine, but for the answers to your questions, I suggest you visit a protected area and ask
1. A forest guard his salary, weapons he uses and the rights to use the weapon if he has one and also how many days in a year he gets to meet his wife and kids. Also ask him how much area he has to patrol and guard and do not forget to see the vehicle he has got for that purpose. Also stay with him for a day and see what he eats for breakfast and lunch and dinner.
2. A veterinary doctor of the forest deptt. (if you find one)his avenues for promotion in future.
Do the above two and you will have all your answers.
Well I dont think the above answers were to my questions Mr. Rishi..
I asked why wasnt a trained team sent.. You're telling me what they get.. and if there is a trained team then even if their salary is low they atleast know their duties and the type of work.. and I asked Why wasnt a doctor present at the spot.. You're talking about his future, and his promotion..
And for the things you've said Mr. Rishi.. regarding Salary, Weapons and Vehicles.. is a different matter altogether..
or do u mean the forest officials did this out of frustration..
And if only money, vehicles and weapons matter.. then Gandhi ji or Bhagat Singh wont have been there.. Were they paid anything.. ?? Or hire a Bus from Sabarmati to Dandi.. ??
For your Question..
I have been to many protected areas.. and seen the life.. I have stayed near the Panpatha range of BNP where they don't even have electricity..
Well...you are right...I have not answered your questions.
First things first- See the problem with the human nature is to find fault with others and put blame on someone for failures. Blaming the forest department (poor, ill educated and ill trained forest guards being the target most of the time) is a common thing for every ill of the forest (I am in no way a advocate of the present system of forest and wildlife management in this country).
FOR YOUR ANSWER--"I have been to many protected areas.. and seen the life.. I have stayed near the Panpatha range of BNP where they don't even have electricity.."
Visting a forest area and staying without power and other basic amenities is quite an adventure and very exciting if you stay for a few days. When you have to stay there for a few years or for a lifetime , it can be quite a different experience altogether.
No definitive answers for your well meaning, well intended questions, but you may get some cues below in order
1. There are hardly any teams that are trained specially for such operations. Specialized training for such operations need a lot of time and quite a lot of money too. Forest staff is scarce and in most of the states, new recruitments have not been done for years. Each forest guard is already extremely overburdened, doing the work much beyond their usual capacity (though not everyone is sincere and hard working, bit in general they are)
2. Simply because there might not be any doctor with the department. Only a few (you can count them on your fingers) protected areas in India have veterinarians and I can assure you they are not the best of the lot.
3. Cannot fix that, but may be the general comment below might provide some clue.
Forests (including wildlife) have been managed in this country on the basis of a centuries old system where the main work of the forest department was to manage the forest for timber production and other forest products. Though forestry operation are not done in the protected area's, the forest department does not have the knowhow and scientific knowledge to manage the wildlife. The research work being carried out on the Indian wildlife is scanty (now do not ask why??).
If you for example look at US or Africa, they have highly specialized wildlife service. The word itself does not exist in our country. A posting in a protected area in this country is considered as punishment posting in general. So the dismal state of affairs is not something that should be very surprising.
Well...you are right...I have not answered your questions.
First things first- See the problem with the human nature is to find fault with others and put blame on someone for failures. Blaming the forest department (poor, ill educated and ill trained forest guards being the target most of the time) is a common thing for every ill of the forest (I am in no way a advocate of the present system of forest and wildlife management in this country).
FOR YOUR ANSWER--"I have been to many protected areas.. and seen the life.. I have stayed near the Panpatha range of BNP where they don't even have electricity.."
Visting a forest area and staying without power and other basic amenities is quite an adventure and very exciting if you stay for a few days. When you have to stay there for a few years or for a lifetime , it can be quite a different experience altogether.
No definitive answers for your well meaning, well intended questions, but you may get some cues below in order
1. There are hardly any teams that are trained specially for such operations. Specialized training for such operations need a lot of time and quite a lot of money too. Forest staff is scarce and in most of the states, new recruitments have not been done for years. Each forest guard is already extremely overburdened, doing the work much beyond their usual capacity (though not everyone is sincere and hard working, bit in general they are)
2. Simply because there might not be any doctor with the department. Only a few (you can count them on your fingers) protected areas in India have veterinarians and I can assure you they are not the best of the lot.
3. Cannot fix that, but may be the general comment below might provide some clue.
Forests (including wildlife) have been managed in this country on the basis of a centuries old system where the main work of the forest department was to manage the forest for timber production and other forest products. Though forestry operation are not done in the protected area's, the forest department does not have the knowhow and scientific knowledge to manage the wildlife. The research work being carried out on the Indian wildlife is scanty (now do not ask why??).
If you for example look at US or Africa, they have highly specialized wildlife service. The word itself does not exist in our country. A posting in a protected area in this country is considered as punishment posting in general. So the dismal state of affairs is not something that should be very surprising.
PS: I am not justifying the death of the leopard or defending the forest department. The death of the leopard is indeed unfortunate and is a loss. All I am trying to say here is that answers for your questions would not be simple and straight out of the box. There are many many issues involved at various levels. I appreciate your enthusiasm and concern. But as you have mentioned "And if only money, vehicles and weapons matter.. then Gandhi ji or Bhagat Singh wont have been there.. Were they paid anything.. ??" money is not all that matters, but you know it does matter. Nothing comes in this world for free. I do not want to engage in a discussion about morals and ethos, but how would you like to justify a man who stays on duty 24X7 in all weathers, enduring all the hardships, staying away from family and children being paid peanuts in the name of salary.
Thats what I was trying to say Rishi.. That money should not be the issue.. And for the Doctor.. As you say that there are not many doctors near the restricted areas.. But this happened in a Village not very far away from the city.. and The Rescue team also took time in coming to the spot.. A doctor could have been arranged.. because it is one of the basics of Rescue..
I was not on an Adventure trip.. nor was I a tourist there.. I was there for a training.. and that starts in January next year.. So I have seen it.. Not everything but a part of the difficult life of the officials..
And if you see the video of this rescue you will also end up asking such things..
Thank you for your views.. Its really nice to see people worried about such thing.. :-)..
nice thoughts- good to see ppl still so passionate about wildlife.. best of luck
25 oct 2007 k bad se abhi tak koi post nahi wah wah , ye kya bat hui miyaan?
Post a Comment