Telangana: 30 rifle shooters identified to cull wild pigs

The list has been circulated to all the officials of Agriculture, Forests, Horticulture, and Panchayat Raj Departments of the States.

On January 26, the Telangana government gave permission to village sarpanches to allow the hunting of wild pigs (wild boars), which have been causing harm to human life and damaging agriculture and horticultural crops outside the Protected Areas and Reserved Forests.

The Telangana government gave permission to village sarpanches to allow the hunting of wild pigs (wild boars), which have been causing harm to human life and damaging agriculture and horticultural crops outside the Protected Areas and Reserved Forests.

Earlier in a written letter addressed to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Telangana some of the members from the panel of shooters met the Forest Officials in Aranya Bhavan and voiced their concern over the issue of demand for money for culling wild pigs.

The members reiterated that they were ready to take up the culling of wild pigs free of cost and if possible, within 48 hours as and when requested by the Gram Panchayat Sarpanch. They informed the Forest Officials that they were not a party to the decision wherein certain shooters had requested money for the culling of wild-pigs in farmer's fields.

The members also informed the forest department that they will bear the cost of ammunition, travel to the site of culling, by themselves and do not accept any remuneration from the Government. "We are willing to take up the culling operation as voluntary service to the farmers in Telangana State as per the provisions of the Government Order and based on the proceedings issued by the Prl. CCF & Chief Wildlife Warden, Telangana," the members from the panel of shooters said in their letter.