VADODARA: Spotted a reptile or crocodile in your area? Now you won't have to go looking for numbers of forest officials or animal activists. The forest department is all set to launch a helpline number for catering to animal rescue calls in the city. The toll-free number will be launched by next week and it will cater to calls for rescuing animals or reptiles that are spotted in residential and commercial areas during monsoons.
A special team has also been formed to cater to the calls that are expected to increase in next few days. "We have decided to launch an exclusive toll-free helpline number as we get lot of calls during monsoons. Reptiles, especially snakes of different species, wander into residential areas and are found all over in the city," said G A Brahmbhatt, assistant conservator of forests (ACF).
He said that the forest department has a regular team that attends to rescue calls but now some officials will be on job round the clock. Three officials staying in different areas have been putting in charge of the calls they get from their areas. Instead of traveling all the way from their office in Kamatibaug, these employees will directly attend to the calls in their respective areas. "It will help us in attending to the calls swiftly," Brahmbhatt told TOI.
The forest department has been getting about 20 to 30 calls daily from different areas of the city over last few days. The forest officials and animal activists have rescued hundreds of snakes and some crocodiles in last few days. The department is also planning to make a zone-wise map of areas where reptiles are found in more numbers during monsoons. In last few days, most reptiles have been spotted in Gotri, Vasna Road and Atladara areas.
Most of the snakes spotted in residential areas or gardens are non-poisonous and they come out in open as water enters their boroughs during monsoons. On Wednesday, animal activist Vishal Thakur rescued a crocodile in Harni area.
A special team has also been formed to cater to the calls that are expected to increase in next few days. "We have decided to launch an exclusive toll-free helpline number as we get lot of calls during monsoons. Reptiles, especially snakes of different species, wander into residential areas and are found all over in the city," said G A Brahmbhatt, assistant conservator of forests (ACF).
He said that the forest department has a regular team that attends to rescue calls but now some officials will be on job round the clock. Three officials staying in different areas have been putting in charge of the calls they get from their areas. Instead of traveling all the way from their office in Kamatibaug, these employees will directly attend to the calls in their respective areas. "It will help us in attending to the calls swiftly," Brahmbhatt told TOI.
The forest department has been getting about 20 to 30 calls daily from different areas of the city over last few days. The forest officials and animal activists have rescued hundreds of snakes and some crocodiles in last few days. The department is also planning to make a zone-wise map of areas where reptiles are found in more numbers during monsoons. In last few days, most reptiles have been spotted in Gotri, Vasna Road and Atladara areas.
Most of the snakes spotted in residential areas or gardens are non-poisonous and they come out in open as water enters their boroughs during monsoons. On Wednesday, animal activist Vishal Thakur rescued a crocodile in Harni area.
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