Blue Bulls/cow aka Nilgai are herbivorous animals. They prefer areas with short bushes, scattered trees and grassy plains because of which they are common in agricultural lands. In search of food they move around and cause extensive damage to the standing crops of farmers in day as well as in night.
In Mandsaur, Blue Bulls were ruining crop fields on large scale. The villagers have been seeking action against Nilgai which falls under Schedule 3 list of animals defined by the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 and demands are being made to shift it to Schedule 5 list.
Under Boma technique, animals are chased and lured towards a temporary enclosure and day by day the size of the enclosure is reduced towards a crush gate(iron gate). Ample time is given for animals to adapt to the reduced area. Finally, the enclosure directs the animals towards specially designed truck and then they are relocated to other forest areas where population of the same animal is less.
The wildlife transportation vehicles resemble to their natural habitat. It has grassy floor, ground level ramp, specialized windows, water source, temperature moderator and is highly sophisticated. The vans also carry veterinary doctors and medicines with them.
In December 1, 2015, a notification of the Union ministry of environment and forests declared the crop- ravaging Antelopes to be 'vermin' (pests). Then Bihar government asked Centre to allow professional shooters to kill the largest Asian Antelope following which around 200 Blue Bulls were killed in Bihar.
However, allowing killing of the animal is no way to deter crop damage and so there was huge uproar of the selective slaughtering of Blue Bulls by animal rights activists.
Talking over the increasing population of Blue Bulls , Chief Conservator of Forests (Ujjain), B.S. Annigeri tells ABP Live, “Population of Blue Bulls is increasing across the state. The villagers claimed that the population in the area is around 300 but as per our survey it is around 200 within 5 km radius”.
First successful implementation of the South African Boma technique took place in the Era village of Mandsaur district. " 21 Bule Bulls were relocated in first drive which included sixteen males, two females and three fawns at a distance of 120 km, in Gandhi Sagar wildlife sanctuary," adds Annigeri
The best part of this technique is that no tranquilizers are given to the animals and the entire procedure is humane. Also, it maintains the delicate food chain and ecosystem.
Focusing on long-term humane solutions Annigeri explained, “This is just an experiment of whether we could catch Blue Bulls or not. Further, if feasible, a state level protocol will be devised for implementation on a larger scale. Also, a study will be conducted on the carrying capacity of the new location where animals will be released and how to make the technique more cost effective”.
While talking to ABP Live Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Dr. Pankaj Srivastava says, “On the first day, with the help of farmers we used only horses to chase the animal. But for the first time in India, Forest Department used a Helicopter to direct Blue Bulls into enclosures on the second day”.
He also added that the forest department received helicopter and the pilot for operation as a voluntary contribution by a flying club and only the expense of fuel was borne by them.
Narrating the difficulties faced he said animals after being chased once showed changed behaviour. We took a break and lured the animals to come back. The entire operation was executed under the supervision of expert veterinary doctors.
"The herd of animals that were chased on Friday did not return the other day, this shows that they have become alert of the drive" added Srivastava.
Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan appreciated the move taking Twitter route.
Blue Bulls successfully relocated are under continuous observation by the forest officials, doctors and have been marked for identification.