THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, February 7: The BOMA truck is ready to roll on for translocation of the Cheetals, but they are keeping at bay from the truck!
Cheetals are suspicious and scared of the truck. They appear to be trying to know or convince themselves that this truck will not harm them.
BOMA technique
The BOMA capturing technique, popular in Africa, involves luring animals into an enclosure by chasing them through funnel-like fencing.
P K Jena, deputy director of the north division of PTR, thinks that wildlife takes time to adjust to seeing new things in the jungles. It’s quite a common phenomenon. Cheetals are taking time to get acquainted with the BOMA truck.
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Jungle and lush green
They are first lured or tempted to come to an enclosure. Here, to have a semblance of the jungle and lush green around the PTR, officials have put agro shade net funnel-like fencing for Cheetals to board the BOMA truck.
Jena said, “Cheetals come and sit right at the entry point but are too mindful not to go inside the enclosure. Cheetals are outwitting us.”
There is a movement of ample wildlife in the north division like that of tiger, leopard and elephant. It’s also coming in the way of Cheetals boarding the BOMA truck.
Cheetals are naturally calm
Elephants, too, pose a different kind of problem. They love ransacking. Cheetals are naturally calm and quiet, and such huge animals around make it uncomfortable to board the BOMA truck.
Jena added, “We have placed Mahua leaves, fruits, etc. Cheetals love eating it. But this food is also not drawing them into the enclosure.”
The PTR people have also put jujube fruit, which is Ber fruit in Hindi. Cheetals have also not found it worth eating and obliging.
It may take some more time before Cheetals start becoming passengers of the BOMA truck.
Betla National Park
Cheetals are to be translocated from Betla National Park under PTR to two soft release centres again located in PTR at Lokaiyya and Heran Degwa under the north division.
