DEFINITION OF RESCUE

• Act of saving or being saved from danger or difficulty
• When it comes to wildlife, the term ‘rescue’ conjures up a sense of hope for the survival of the animal, the drama of the operation, admiration for the skills of human responders, and an acknowledgment of the struggles of coexistence.

CONTEXT

• Human-Wildlife Interactions in India
  • The frequency of human-wildlife interactions in India is increasing.
  • Conflict with wildlife is inevitable and needs better solutions than reactive capture and relocation.
• Challenges of Reactive Approaches
  • Reactive methods like capture and relocation are often unsustainable or harmful to animals.
  • Distinguishing between wildlife rescue and capture is a nuanced challenge.
• Complexities of Successful Capture
  • Successful capture involves various techniques like chemical and physical immobilization.
  • Expert teams with specific roles are crucial for capturing animals safely.
• Scenarios Requiring Rescue
  • Actual rescue situations include animals like leopards, elephants, and snakes in precarious situations like wells, tanks, or homes.
  • Separated elephant calves also require rescue.
• Not Every Encounter Requires Rescue
  • Wildlife sightings outside typical habitats don’t always need rescue.
  • Wildlife causing minor disruptions like livestock killings or crop damage may not warrant capture.
• Effective Conflict Management
  • Effective responses don’t always involve capture or relocation.
  • Proactive conflict management aims to mitigate tense situations without harming animals.

IGNORING THE GUIDELINES

• Central Government Guidelines
  • Guidelines discourage capturing leopards or elephants based solely on sightings.
  • Emphasize preventative measures over capture, with capture as a last resort.
• Ignored Advice
  • In practice, the advice to avoid capture unless necessary is often overlooked.
  • Recent incidents highlight the consequences of ignoring this advice.
• Case Study: Elephant in South India
  • Elephant captured from a coffee plantation under the guise of rescue.
  • Released far away, leading to straying and subsequent capture attempts resulting in its death.
• Case Study: Leopard in Balrampur
  • Leopard ‘rescued’ from an agricultural field but died shortly after.
  • Shows the illusion of labeling every capture as a rescue.
• Recommendations for Better Practices
  • Adhere to government guidelines on wildlife management.
  • Prioritize preventative measures and only resort to capture when absolutely necessary.
  • Ensure captured animals are released in familiar habitats to avoid distress and further conflict.

SNAKE MANAGEMENT

• Misconceptions
  • Confusion between capture, removal, and rescue is evident in snake conflict management.
  • Snakes have a high frequency of interactions with humans, leading to various management issues.
• Poor Handling and Unnecessary Removal
  • Increased interactions result in poor handling of snakes during so-called ‘rescue’ operations.
  • Snakes are often unnecessarily removed from habitats and relocated to unfamiliar areas.
• Survival Challenges After Relocation
  • Relocated snakes have low survival rates in unfamiliar environments.
  • Relocation does not resolve conflict and may lead to increased conflicts in the vacated area.
• Harmful Effects of ‘Rescue’ Operations
  • ‘Rescue’ operations can cause physical trauma, injuries, and stress to snakes.
  • These factors compromise the animals’ chances of survival post-release.
• Reconsidering the Concept of ‘Rescue’
  • The term ‘rescue’ implies a threat to one species from another or from human activities.
  • This perception can lead to villainizing parties and undermine conservation efforts.
• Moving Towards Holistic Community Integration
  • Instead of divisive practices, we should integrate humans and animals in community management.
  • Long-term conservation goals require holistic approaches that consider both human and non-human needs.

THE KARNATAKA EXAMPLE

• Realistic Conflict Resolution
  • Begin conflict resolution with a realistic assessment of the situation.
  • Identify the problem, limit stress factors for animals, exhaust proactive measures, and base interventions on ethical considerations.
• Proactive Mitigation Strategies
  • Prioritize proactive measures to avoid conflicts before they occur.
  • Examples include early warning systems, monitoring, fencing, lighting improvements, public education, and waste management.
• Examples from Karnataka
  • Karnataka Forest Department implements promising strategies like early warning systems and public education.
  • These strategies aim to reduce conflicts and prepare communities for wildlife interactions.
• Considerations in Relocation
  • Relocation disrupts ecosystems and has significant animal welfare implications.
  • Effective conflict resolution should consider animal welfare alongside relocation strategies.
• Seeking Win-Win Solutions
  • Strive for conflict resolution approaches that benefit both humans and animals.
  • Focus on leaving everyone better off through thoughtful and ethical interventions.