Bhubaneswar: Satyabrata Sahoo, Additional Chief Secretary Forest, Environment and Climate Change has launched Rapid Response Team (RRT) to help out the wild animals in distress.
Debidutta Biswal, PCCF & HoFF, Susanta Nanda, PCCF (WL) & CWLW, Odisha along with senior officers graced the occasion.
Circle level Rapid Response Team (RRT) has been constituted with an aim to provide a self-sufficient team to conduct rapid rescue, safe shifting and release of wild animals in distress.
In the 1st leg 18 forest Divisions having maximum incidents of human-wildlife conflict have been provided with these teams, but they can operate in any Division within that circle as & when required.
A total of 18 number of RRT have been deployed at strategic locations all over Odisha namely at Chandaka, Nandankanan, Bhanjanagar, Bhawanipatna, Nawarangpur, Rayagada, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Rourkela, Sundergarh, Baripada, Karanjia, Paralakhemundi, Bargarh, Bolangir and Malkangiri.
Each team comprises of 6 to 9 members having Forest Ranger/Deputy Ranger, Forester, Forest Guard and Squad personnel. The teams were trained in six Phases from 15th February 2024 to 6th March 2024 at Godibari of Chandaka Wildlife Division.
The Rapid Response Teams have been equipped with all the necessary equipments required for rescue and safe release of wild animals.
In the 1st phase, today on 7th March 2024 11 number of customized, all weather, multi role 4WD Vehicles equipped with required facilities were flagged off by and other dignitaries for effective functioning of RRTs all over the state.
The cost of the vehicles has been met from Site Specific Wildlife Conservation Plans and CSR funds.
Thanks to the overdrive of PCCF Wildlife, Shri Nanda, there is a perceptive change in Wildlife Management Scenario in the State, admit Wildlife Watchers.
Wildlife Management and Care For Nature is the prime motto of the Wildlife Organization has become the focus of wildlife Organization since Shri Nanda has taken over as its Chief, said he.
