Maharashtra Approves Breeding Centres for Rare Wildlife Conservation

The Maharashtra government has approved breeding centres for otters, vultures, and wild buffaloes to conserve rare wildlife species. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde emphasized prioritizing conservation efforts and directed the implementation of the 'Ek Paid Maa Ke Naam' campaign. Shinde also initiated various programmes for wildlife protection and farmer welfare.

The Maharashtra government has given the green light to establish breeding centres for otters, vultures, and wild buffaloes as a part of a conservation strategy for rare wildlife species, an official announcement revealed on Tuesday.

In a state wildlife board meeting held on Monday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde underscored the significance of protecting endangered species and mandated the full-scale implementation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek Paid Maa Ke Naam' (a tree in mother's name) campaign across all municipal bodies, educational institutions, and municipalities in Maharashtra.

According to a statement from the chief minister's office, Shinde approved proposals for breeding centres in specific areas—Pench Tiger Reserve for otters, Nashik for vultures, and Gadchiroli for wild buffaloes. He expressed optimism that these centres would play a pivotal role in the conservation of rare species.

Additionally, Shinde launched a 'clinic on wheels' initiative to extend the benefits of the Gopinath Munde Shetkari Apaghat Vima, an accident insurance scheme for farmers, to cover farm labourers who suffer from snakebites, ensuring timely treatment. The forest department was also tasked with hiring a family member of victims killed in wild animal attacks as a forest labourer.

The chief minister set an ambitious target of planting bamboo across 10 lakh hectares in the state and instructed the forest department to concentrate on conserving rare plant species. Highlighting the Jawali forest in Satara as home to 500 rare species, he directed the creation of a research and development centre there. Shinde also gave the nod to four development projects in protected areas, environmentally sensitive zones, and tiger tourism routes.

(With inputs from agencies.)