PUNE: Several local primary response teams featuring resident-volunteers and wildlife enthusiasts from villages in and around Pune and other districts would now be trained to assist with rescue operations and to help reduce the animal-human conflicts, besides the rapid response team comprising forest rangers and other employees of the Pune forest department, .
Shivaji Mukhe, officer on special puty, Pune forest department, said, “Only last year. we formed rapid response team to help with wildlife rescue operations in and around the city, and all the members were trained by RESQ. To further the initiative, we formed primary response teams featuring 20 members each from all villages to act as first-responders to emergency situations in their areas. They will try to diffuse human-wildlife conflict, gather vital information and secure animals to be helpful for rescue till our rapid response teams reach.”
