Synopsis
Madhya Pradesh is struggling with the Nilgai menace, a wild animal causing extensive crop damage. Farmers are looking towards the Robinson R44 helicopter as a solution, but efforts to implement a plan are hindered by a lack of suitable candidates for the operation. The dilemma of managing Nilgai remains a pressing issue for the state's agricultural stability.Key Takeaways
- Nilgai are causing significant crop damage in Madhya Pradesh.
- Authorities are relying on the Robinson R44 helicopter for solutions.
- Previous management efforts have largely failed.
- The Chief Minister is under pressure to address the issue.
- Cultural sentiments complicate culling as a solution.
Bhopal, March 14 (NationPress) The authorities in Madhya Pradesh once again find themselves in a predicament, facing a long-standing conflict with the wild animal Nilgai – whose name shares a suffix with gai (cow). This antelope species has been a significant nuisance for farmers over the past several years, causing not just damage but complete destruction of crops across numerous regions in the state.
All expectations are now pinned on the Robinson R44 helicopter, which is seen as the latest tool in the fight against the destruction caused by this tenacious antelope species.
Previous attempts to manage the situation, including Boma (capture and relocate), fladry, fencing, scarecrows, and even fire, have not produced meaningful outcomes. Additionally, the unconventional strategy of performing vasectomies on the Nilgai has also failed to solve the issue.
The weight of this dilemma now falls on Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. This issue was again brought up in the state Assembly on Thursday, where Speaker Narendra Tomar acknowledged, “If Nilgais continue to multiply, farmers in the state may encounter further challenges.”
During a general meeting of the Madhya Pradesh Tiger Foundation Committee, chaired by CM Yadav at his residence in Bhopal, officials disclosed that the Robinson R44 helicopter had been selected for the operation on a ‘charter’ basis, yet there have been no interested parties for the task.
An e-tender process has been initiated to secure both the helicopter and a qualified pilot; however, despite three rounds of tender issuance, the endeavor remains stalled due to a lack of suitable candidates. The Robinson R44 helicopters are recognized worldwide for their reliability and efficiency in such operations.
A formal request has been made to the Principal Secretary of Aviation to provide the necessary helicopter or a suitable alternative. Once the aircraft is procured, the operation to capture and relocate these wild animals can proceed promptly, offering farmers some much-needed relief from their crop losses.
Officials presented a comprehensive action plan aimed at protecting farmland from damage inflicted by the wild animal. This plan focuses on capturing both Nilgai and blackbucks, known for causing havoc on agricultural lands, and relocating them to safer environments. Despite pleas from distressed farmers in Neemuch, who have long called for culling as a solution, former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan opposed this measure, seemingly for personal and political reasons.
The previous Chouhan administration even attempted to distance the Nilgai from its cow-related sanctity by renaming it to “Rojad” in 2016, complicating the culling issue.
Although innovative, the 2017 initiative to sterilize male Nilgai through vasectomy turned out to be a limited success. A team of veterinarians conducted “pinhole” surgeries under sedation at Bhopal's Van Vihar National Park, hoping to manage the animals' rapid reproduction rates. However, the Nilgai's prolific breeding continues to be a pressing concern.
Female Nilgai reach reproductive maturity at just 25 months and can live for 12 to 13 years, leading to exponential population growth.
The situation is particularly dire in districts like Ratlam, Mandsaur, and Neemuch, where farmers cultivate opium under state oversight.
Farmers in Mandsaur district claim that Nilgai not only enjoy the taste of poppy, consuming up to 300 fruits in a single night, but they also trample any remaining crops. Traditional deterrents such as thorny fencing, scarecrows, and colorful fladry have failed to deter their destructive incursions.
Efforts to relocate the Nilgai using the South African Boma technique, which involves driving animals into enclosures for safe transportation, have proven extremely costly. In a recorded instance in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the state spent Rs 41.6 lakh relocating 27 Nilgai, averaging Rs 1.5 lakh per animal. The extensive operation in Mandsaur required over 150 forest personnel, 70 local villagers, 30 horses, and even a private helicopter to manage the effort.
Culling remains a legally permissible option under Section 11 of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which allows the Chief Wildlife Warden to approve the killing of animals considered a threat to human life or property, as noted by a senior official in the forest department who requested anonymity.
However, strong cultural sentiments linked to the Nilgai’s name, which invokes sacred associations with cows, have discouraged many from pursuing this option. In fact, only one farmer has sought permission to cull Nilgai in the last twelve years, despite the significant damage they inflict, the official mentioned.
Farmers in regions like Mandsaur have even called for the reintroduction of predators such as leopards, arguing that their absence emboldens Nilgai herds, which often consist of 40 to 50 individuals. Nonetheless, the complexities of maintaining ecological balance with agricultural needs have rendered such measures challenging to implement.
Recently, the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department drafted proposals to simplify hunting regulations for Nilgai and wild boars, seeking input from legislators on the issue. According to the draft policy, licensed firearm owners would need to obtain permits to hunt these crop-damaging animals. However, ethical concerns and public outcry – particularly from prominent animal welfare advocates who have criticized similar initiatives – have left this proposal in limbo.
The government now leans towards a “trial-and-error” strategy, focusing on capturing and relocating the animals rather than resorting to culling. Advertisements have been published to recruit individuals and organizations to assist in these efforts.
Destruction of crops due to Nilgai remains widespread in many districts, including Bhind, Rewa, Morena, and Shajapur, highlighting the urgent need for a sustainable solution. Yet the question remains: how can one achieve a balance between conservation and the welfare of those whose livelihoods depend on agriculture? The ongoing plight of the Nilgai not only poses a challenge to the agricultural stability of Madhya Pradesh but also presents a moral and political dilemma for its leadership.
