Awareness Campaign in 120 Villages to Prevent Human-Wildlife Conflict in Balrampur

बलरामपुर | प्रमोद पाण्डेय

Comprehensive Plan to Mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflict

A detailed action plan has been finalized in Balrampur district to curb the increasing incidents of human-wildlife conflict. Presented by the Sohailwa Wildlife Division, the plan was approved in a review meeting chaired by District Magistrate Dr. Vipin Kumar Jain.

The core objective of this initiative is to ensure the safety of life and property while reducing human-wildlife encounters. The District Magistrate emphasized that prevention should go beyond rescue operations post-incident, prioritizing planned preparation and swift response.

As part of the strategy, an extensive awareness campaign will be conducted in 120 sensitive villages directly bordering forest areas. The plan also mandates the creation of detailed maps and a geo-tagged database of key hotspot areas bordering forest boundaries, based on past incident analyses.

Coordinated Security Strategy and Departmental Collaboration

A multi-pronged security strategy is being developed to tackle human-wildlife conflict, involving close coordination among various government departments. The Electricity Department has been instructed to improve lighting in border villages and fix sagging wires to prevent accidents in the dark.

Through the Panchayati Raj Department, Gram Pradhans will be activated to strengthen the Village Alert Network and encourage 100% use of toilets to deter open defecation. The Agriculture Department will promote alternative crop cycles that do not attract wildlife, while the Animal Husbandry Department will educate farmers on livestock vaccination and protection.

The Health Department is directed to ensure sufficient availability of anti-venom and anti-rabies injections for immediate treatment in case of any untoward incident.

Rapid Response Teams and Public Cooperation Emphasized

In situations where wildlife enters populated areas, police, SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal), and the Forest Department will conduct coordinated joint patrols. 24x7 active rapid response teams equipped with modern tools like thermal drones, camera traps, and night-vision devices will be maintained.

The District Magistrate appealed to villagers to avoid venturing out alone at night and refrain from cornering or unnecessarily provoking wildlife. Residents are advised to immediately report any wildlife sightings to the local control room.

The meeting was attended by the Divisional Forest Officer, Sohailwa, and other senior departmental officials.