Copyright thehindu
The Forest Department has placed a cage fitted with a camera and remote control facility to trap wild boars that damage agricultural crops near Kinathukadavu in Coimbatore district. The specially designed cage, which has solar-powered camera and remote control system, was placed at Kothavadi near Kinathukadavu two days ago, after farmers complained of frequent damages caused by wild pigs that have colonised uncultivated lands outside forests. The area falls within the limits of the Pollachi forest range of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. The cage was placed as efforts made by the trained staff from the Forest Department to cull wild pigs with rifles did not yield results. According to the Forest Department, the cage consists of two parts – a small rectangular collapsible enclosure of five feet height with a sliding door and a transfer cage. Meat waste or other materials that attract wild boar will be placed inside the cage to lure them. The cage has to be monitored manually using the camera to find out the presence of wild boars. Once pigs enter the cage, its sliding door can be operated with a remote control that can be operated from a distance of about 100 metres. The detachable transfer cage is used to transport the captured pigs to suitable natural locations. Pollachi Forest Range Officer K. Gnanabalamurugan said the cage, which weighs a total of 650 kg, can hold eight to 10 wild boars.
