P. Sudhakar

Department of Forest plans to provide solar fencing

TIRUNELVELI: The recent retrieval of carcasses of wild boars and sambar deer from the Tamirabharani and also from the bushes on the reserve forest periphery seems to be only a tip of the iceberg as good number of carcasses of these animals are still strewn around in the forest.

Though Forest Department officials claim that only a couple of wild boars and sambar deer were killed by owners of farms close to the reserve forest area near Ermaalpuram, highly decomposed carcasses of more than 20 wild boars could be seen under the bushes at various points, suggesting that these wild animals could have been poisoned by the enraged farmers after they invaded their unfenced cultivated lands and damaged their crops. A farmer, who was guarding the standing crops of his farm – mostly vegetables and plantain – beyond Mela Ermaalpuram around 11.30 p.m., said the wild boars, which would enter the ranches in large numbers, would completely damage the crop and even would dig the land with their powerful snout in search of its food of tubers or tender roots.

“Sambar deer also completely damage the crop as these animals eat the plant from top to bottom,” he said and added he had not harmed any wild animals on any occasion. “I'd chase them back to the reserve forest and would not kill them.”

A. Venkatesh, Deputy Director, Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve – Mundanthurai, who was proceeding to the forest close to Mela Ermaalpuram around 1.30 a.m. with a team of forest personnel in search of carcasses, told ‘The Hindu' that they had identified the field after conducting a check in around 160 ranches in which the sambar deer were killed and zeroed in on the culprits.

“We've so far recovered the carcasses of four wild boars and four sambar deer and hooves of a sambar deer from one field near Mela Ermaalpuram. The village administrative officer concerned and a surveyor have been roped in to locate the exact survey number of this particular ranch so that the owner can be easily identified,” Mr. Venkatesh said.

He informed that the Department of Forest had planned to provide solar fencing from Thiruppathiyapuram to Manimuthar Zero Point (for about 3.50 Km) at a cost of Rs. 6 lakh.