The forest department in Kerala is set to develop a mobile application that will allow residents to summon licensed shooters when wild boars are spotted in their neighborhoods. This initiative, modeled after the Sarpa app, is part of broader efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
App Features and Rollout
The app will serve as a platform for residents to alert shooters and inform local body representatives. Initially launched in Thiruvananthapuram, it will gradually expand to other districts. Once a wild boar sighting is reported, the app sends instant alerts to registered shooters. For safety, it will also include contact numbers of ward members, panchayat secretaries, and vigilance committee coordinators. District collector Anu Kumari, during a recent control committee meeting, directed the forest department to proceed with app development.
Panchayat-Level Panels and Liaison Officers
As part of the government's 100-day program, panels will be formed at the panchayat level by including more shooters. A forest liaison officer will be appointed at local bodies where human-animal conflicts are reported.
Current Wild Boar Culling Statistics
In the previous financial year, 1,658 wild boars were culled in Thiruvananthapuram district. Nedumangad municipality recorded the highest number, followed by Peringammala grama panchayat and Thiruvananthapuram corporation.
Additional Measures
Following complaints about severe wild boar nuisance at Kariavattom campus, the collector directed the corporation to deploy shooters and instructed university authorities to clear undergrowth. Special awareness programs for corporation councillors, postponed due to election code of conduct, will resume. Regular meetings of people's vigilance committees, which discuss local wildlife nuisance, will be ensured.
The forest department will also map private properties, including locked estates, industrial establishments, and local self-government bodies. Special arrangements will be made to clear undergrowth and bushes that provide hiding spots for wild animals.
Strict action will be taken to remove dense undergrowth in plantations in hilly regions. To control nuisance from wildlife such as monkeys and peacocks, panchayat-level local response teams will be formed and trained.
