The government will establish rescue centres for orphaned and injured wild animals and those involved in man-animal conflict, Parliament was informed today.
Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar said the Central Zoo Authority has asked chief wildlife wardens of all states and Union Territories to open such centres.
At present, there are 15 such recognised rescue centres functioning in various parts of the country. Out of these, ten facilities are being run by non-government organisations, societies, trusts and individuals, he said.
Speaking on the measures being taken by the government for protection of tigers, Javadekar said Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) has been made operational in the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Odisha with hundred per cent central assistance under the ongoing centrally-sponsored scheme of Project Toger.
"The government provides grants through National Tiger Conservation Authority for patrolling in tiger rich sensitive forest areas outside tiger reserves," he said.
Other steps taken by the government include launching tiger reserve level monitoring using camera tap to keep a photo ID database of individual tigers, performing supervisory field visits through NTCA and its regional offices and using information technology for improved surveillance using thermal cameras launched in Corbett (Uttarakhand), Ratapani (Madhya Pradesh) and Kaziranga (Assam) Tiger Reserves.
