Face masks, whistles, drums to keep tigers away

HYDERABAD: Forest department officials on Saturday stepped up efforts to protect people from potential tiger attacks, especially the one that was involved in two incidents on Friday and Saturday in Kagaznagar and Sirpur (T) mandals of KB Asifabad district.

To begin with, they started distributing face masks for people to wear on the back of their necks when they go to the fields or graze cattle. This is believed to confuse the tiger and prevent attacks.

District Forest Officer Neeraj Tibrewal said on Saturday that over 350 such masks have been distributed out of the 1,000 that were ordered. Orders have been placed for 2,000 more such masks for distribution in villages from where tiger movement is reported, he said.

The use of such masks has proven effective in preventing tigers from launching attacks on humans in other parts of the country, particularly in the Sunderbans of West Bengal.

Whistles and drums are being procured for distribution in the villages, and these devices are intended to be used by people on sentinel duty in the fields or while tending cattle or sheep. Tibrewal said villagers are urged to go in a group of 8 to 10 people and have at least two people posted as sentinels to watch for any movement of tigers or other wild animals near the fields.

Drones with cameras are also being used to track the tiger’s movement, he said, adding that every effort has been made to keep people safe and prevent any further human-tiger interaction.

Also on Saturday, a district coordination committee meeting chaired by the district collector was held in Kagaznagar where officials from police, forest, animal husbandry, electricity, revenue and other departments discussed a standard operating protocol to protect people from potential conflicts with tigers.

SOP to stay safe in tiger land

Avoid forest trails;

Move in groups of 8 to 10 people; two of the party should be sent as sentries

Wear face masks on the back of your head while in the field;

The farmers guarding the crops must stay on the machans in their fields;

Those animals that graze must stay within half a kilometer of their villages; grazing between 10 am and 4 pm;

Carry a stick with a bell attached while walking in the field;

Form village protection committees, with a forest officer and a constable to be nominated by the local sub-inspector;

Report any evidence of tiger presence to the committee;

Inform the commission when leaving the village and the route

No one should do any action which may harm the tigers, such actions will be dealt with under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.