Outgunned and unfunded: Forest officials left with sticks to battle straying wildlife

Kottayam: Amid wildlife attacks escalating across the state, the Forest Department is facing a severe shortage of bullets and guns, leaving officials ill-equipped to handle the growing human-wildlife conflicts.

This shortage is attributed to the increased deployment of firearms by forest officials in the post-COVID period, during which such conflicts have intensified.

With no funds allocated for purchasing bullets and guns, forest officials are now forced to patrol the wilderness armed with little more than sticks. The department typically relies on 202 rifles, 12-bore rifles, .315 and .305 rifles, and pump-action guns to deter wild elephants, along with firecrackers to drive herds back into the forest. However, the department is not allocating funds to buy these firecrackers these days, according to the officials.

To procure bullets, the department must first seek permission from the respective District Collector, after which they can purchase ammunition from government or private armouries.

However, the ongoing financial crunch has forced many officials to bear these expenses out of their own pockets. This lack of resources has rendered these tools unavailable in most locations.

Forest officials primarily use cartridges filled with beads to chase away wild elephants. When fired, these cartridges produce a loud noise, and although the beads may penetrate the elephant's skin, they safely emerge after a few months. Unfortunately, these cartridges are now in short supply, complicating efforts to manage wildlife conflicts effectively.