• Govt gives go-ahead for wild boar hunting

Govt gives go-ahead for wild boar hunting

TNN | Oct 27, 2015, 07.25AM ISTHYDERABAD: It's now open season for hunting of wild boar in Telangana, at least in areas where the animal has turned into a pest destroying crops and is fit to be declared as vermin. Orders to shoot or kill wild boar destroying crops in the state were issued by forests and environment minister Jogu Ramanna here on Monday.

The minister, reviewing a slew of complaints from farmers from various districts, said that the animal was now declared a vermin. However, any such hunt will first have to receive the approval of the local forest department officials, who will determine the level of threat posed to crops.

The review meeting was attended, among others, by principal chief conservator of forests PK Sharma and senior forest and wildlife department officials.

The minister also instructed officials that no cases should be booked against hunting of wild boar by farmers looking to protect their crops. "The attacks by wild boar on crops have been vexing farmers and it is time to take some action," the minister said.

He also said the government was releasing Rs 55 lakh to rid villages and towns of the monkey menace. The money would be used to meet the costs of trapping bands of monkeys, usually the Rhesus Macacque, which have become a menace and threat to humans. Such monkeys trapped in villages or towns, will be later released deep in the forests, he said.

BLURB

Following a slew of complaints by farmers losing crops to wild boar attacks, the govt has declared the animal a vermin