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Animal attacks: Shooting orders should be the last resort, says Yogi
Such attacks should be controlled at any cost and animals attacking humans should be captured, the CM said
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials that orders to shoot animals should only be the last resort after operations to capture vicious animals have failed.
The CM convened a high-level meeting with forest department officials on Monday to address the recent surge in incidents of human-wildlife conflict across several districts of Uttar Pradesh.
He directed senior forest officials to camp in affected districts, given the rising incidents of man-animal conflict in different parts of the state, particularly the attacks by wolves. He urged them to analyse the causes behind the increase in such conflicts to curb them effectively.
“Coordination among forest, police, local administration, local panchayat, revenue department should be ensured and people should be made aware about the incidents and steps for their own safety,” said the CM.
Such attacks should be controlled at any cost and animals attacking humans should be captured. All possible efforts should be made in this direction, the CM told officials.
Extensive public awareness campaigns should be conducted in sensitive areas, with hoardings placed at public locations like temples, gurdwaras, mosques, schools, local markets, sugarcane purchase centers, block development offices, and tehsils, the officials have been told.
Meanwhile, the forest minister ordered the immediate deployment of additional forest department personnel in Bahraich, Sitapur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Pilibhit, Bijnor, and other affected districts, along with increased joint patrolling efforts.
Uttar Pradesh is the first state to declare human-wildlife conflict as a disaster, ensuring comprehensive support to families affected by attacks by wild animals or untimely deaths, read a press statement from the state government.
