319 snares seized in 3 months: Andhra Pradesh

HYDERABAD: In a drive to keep poaching activities at bay, the wildlife wing of AP Forest Department has scoured out 319 snares (animal trapping device) from tiger reserves and sanctuaries in the state in the last three months.The department hired 300 local tribes to find out animal traps in the state forest reserves.As many as 179 snares were seized from Nagarjunasagar- Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) while 80 and 35 traps were appropriated from Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR) and Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary in Khammam district respectively.Another 25 snares were collected from other wildlife sanctuaries in the state, according to the records of AP Forest Department.SV Kumar, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), said, “For the last three years, we have been putting efforts to contain the killing of animals.We found 319 snares with the help of the tribal communities in the last three months".Snares are traps set up by poachers and are used as a bait to lure animals.These, usually, consist of spiraling clutch wires connected to hunting batteries.Big cats and other animals, ensnared by food, get trapped by the poachers.The forest authorities formed anti-poaching squads to motivate people, and make them aware of the materials used in poaching .Fifty-five mobile teams, consisting of five members each, with vehicles, were also engaged in the forest areas in and around national animal reserves, sanctuaries, and parks.“Because of the joint vigilance by tribals and forest officials, we have been able to contain tiger poaching.In last 14 months, no tiger death was reported in the state while around 32 tigers died across the country in last four months ,” Kumar said.As many as 12 animal rescue vans have been arranged.Each van has a six-member team to rescue wild animals.The department have set up 94 new check-posts to check illegal transport of wild birds, mammals, and reptiles from the state, Kumar informed.