Thiruvananthapuram begins eco-restoration to reduce wildlife attacks

The forest department in Thiruvananthapuram is starting an eco-restoration project to reduce wildlife attacks. Although such incidents have decreased in this district, the department aims to prevent future complications. They plan to plant 100,000 trees over 120 hectares in the Palode and Paruthippally ranges. The initiative includes reviving over one hundred ponds to provide water to wildlife during the summer. Rapid response teams (RRT) will be strengthened. These teams will receive additional personnel, allowing them to patrol more often and stay in touch with local communities. The RRT will also implement strategies to prevent wildlife attacks. The trees being planted will include various fruit trees like jackfruit and mango, as well as indigenous species. The department is focusing on areas previously affected by acacia trees, which were harmful to the local ecosystem. The project also involves clearing shrubs and trees along the edges of the forest. This vista clearance aims to create a 100-meter visibility boundary to reduce wildlife from entering human spaces. Since 2015, there have been 53 wildlife-related deaths in the area, but the number has been declining. Last year, only two deaths were reported, and so far this year, one death has occurred. Most incidents have been linked to people entering the forest for resources, particularly in villages near forest lands.