Plea for prioritising forest staff for vaccination yet to be notified in Karnataka

Anti-poaching drive to be affected as infections rise among staff

Constant exposure during combing operations outside forests and anti-poaching drives has resulted in a sizeable number of field staff contracting . Apart from anti-poaching drives the field staff also come into contact with the general public while dealing with other issues and this is not only resulting in infection among the forest staff but they could even end up spreading it in the remote hamlets of forest-dwelling communities. Recently, a gang of poachers was nabbed by the forest protection squad in south Karnataka region and some of the accused tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, the entire staff involved in the operation had to opt for isolation.