Coimbatore, Nov. 13
The 10-member Rapid Response Team (RRT) that was inducted in Coimbatore a few months ago carried out their first assignment of handling elephant emergencies here on Monday.
The RRT, which was an outcome of a State Government order released in March, was set up at a cost of Rs. 89 lakh in the Coimbatore Division. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department proposed in 2016 to set up two teams, one each in Coimbatore and Gudalur. A sum of Rs. 89 lakh each was allotted for both by the State.
After the inception, the members of the team were given training to handle elephant emergencies and also control the crowd during such times. “We have selected young persons who are fit enough to handle crisis. The team would also be involved in elephant depredation,” said District Forest Officer N. Satheesh.
The members are given separate blue-coloured camouflaged uniforms like those with Rapid Action Force and a salary of Rs. 6,500 has been allotted, according to sources. The staff will be recruited on contract basis and would be given field training with the help of Anti-Poaching Watchers.
The team was involved in the treatment of a 25-year-old tusker at Kondanur, in Anaikatti, on Monday, and would be used for all such operations. “We are planning to use them in the field directly once they are ready. They will undergo various training programmes before that,” added DFO Satheesh.