The Tamil Nadu government has issued a directive to address human-wild boar conflicts, instructing forest officials to shoot wild boars that damage agricultural lands, but only those located beyond a 3 km radius from forest areas. They have also been trained on how to handle and dispose of these animals.
A one-day training camp was conducted on January 28 at the Tamil Nadu Forest Training Centre in Coimbatore for forest personnel, focusing on how to shoot and manage wild boars. The event was inaugurated by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Mr. K. Srinivasa Reddy.
The camp included discussions on the current status of wild boars and methods to control their population. Senior forest officials and wildlife specialists, including Mr. Rakesh Kumar Thokra (Principal Chief Conservator of Forests), and other key personnel, led the sessions.
A total of 91 forest rangers and wildlife protectors from various districts of Tamil Nadu participated in the training. In addition to shooting techniques, the camp also included instructions on how to trap and release wild boars back into the forest.
Further training on shooting with firearms was provided at the Madukkarai shooting range. The Forest Department has allocated a budget of Rs. 5 crore under its modernization plan to procure modern firearms from a factory in West Bengal.
As part of the new method, wild boars that come within 1-3 km of the forest will be trapped, while larger boars beyond that distance will be shot. Discussions are underway to address the control of wild boars located up to 40-50 km away from forest areas.
