Operation Bhediya | 04 Sep 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the forest department launched ‘Operation Bhediya (Wolf)’ after a series of attacks by a pack of wolves in Mehsi tehsil, which resulted in the deaths of six children and a woman, and around 30 injuries over the past 45 days.

Key Points

• Operation Bhediya: Aims to capture and neutralize a pack of wolves responsible for recent attacks.
• Technologies and Strategies:Utilization of drone cameras and thermal drone mapping to locate and track the wolves.
  • Approval has been obtained for tranquilizing the wolves to safely capture them.
• The Chief Wildlife Warden can allow hunting of a Schedule I wild animal if it poses a danger to humans by issuing a written order explaining the reasons.
• Wolf: It is classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN, listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and included in Appendix I of CITES.
• Schedules in WPA, 1972:
  • Schedule I: Protects endangered species with strict penalties; prohibits hunting except in extreme cases (e.g., Black Buck, Snow Leopard).
  • Schedule II: High protection and trade prohibition for certain species (e.g., Assamese Macaque, Indian Cobra).
  • Schedules III & IV: Protects non-endangered species with lesser penalties for violations (e.g., Chital, Flamingo).
  • Schedule V: Lists vermin species that can be hunted (e.g., Common Crows, Rats).
  • Schedule VI: Regulates cultivation and trade of specified plants, requiring prior permission (e.g., Blue Vanda, Kuth).