Gulf carriers, and those from around the world, routinely land and take off from the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose airport in Calcutta, capital of India’s West Bengal province.
But unknown to fliers, the airfield is infested with hordes of jackals and all efforts by airport authorities to get rid of them have failed.
The current jackal population at Calcutta airport – named after one of India’s greatest independence leaders – is pegged at 120. The fast-breeding animals are a safety hazard and the federal government’s Airport Authority of India (AAI) is exploring new methods to catch them.
“The probability of a “major accident resulting in deaths and destruction caused by a plane’s collision with a jackal at Calcutta airport is extremely high”, an experienced pilot who didn’t want to be named told Al Arabiya.
“It’s inconceivable that a major international airport hasn’t found a solution to the jackal menace in 10 long years. It’s disgraceful and dangerous’”.
The Times of India newspaper reported in 2016 that an Emirates flight was forced to circle Calcuta airport for a considerable time after the control tower spotted a jackal on the runway which had to be shooed away so that the packed plane from Dubai could land safely. There have been many other instances of flight disruption due to jackals in recent years.
Jackals, known for their stealth and cunning, are cleverly dodging traps set up by forest officials roped in by a desperate AAI to catch the elusive animals. Cameras placed near the traps have captured footage of jackals sizing up the traps and studiously avoiding them displaying incredible survival instincts.
Shooting jackals is out of the question as they are a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. At best they can be caught and rehabilitated in forests.
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) is partnering AAI to find a solution to the airport´s festering jackal problem. A ZSI official disclosed that jackals sneak into the airport complex by digging burrows outside the boundary walls or fencing which provide a safe passage inside.
04/03/18 S. N. M. Abdi/Al Arabiya
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
But unknown to fliers, the airfield is infested with hordes of jackals and all efforts by airport authorities to get rid of them have failed.
The current jackal population at Calcutta airport – named after one of India’s greatest independence leaders – is pegged at 120. The fast-breeding animals are a safety hazard and the federal government’s Airport Authority of India (AAI) is exploring new methods to catch them.
“The probability of a “major accident resulting in deaths and destruction caused by a plane’s collision with a jackal at Calcutta airport is extremely high”, an experienced pilot who didn’t want to be named told Al Arabiya.
“It’s inconceivable that a major international airport hasn’t found a solution to the jackal menace in 10 long years. It’s disgraceful and dangerous’”.
The Times of India newspaper reported in 2016 that an Emirates flight was forced to circle Calcuta airport for a considerable time after the control tower spotted a jackal on the runway which had to be shooed away so that the packed plane from Dubai could land safely. There have been many other instances of flight disruption due to jackals in recent years.
Jackals, known for their stealth and cunning, are cleverly dodging traps set up by forest officials roped in by a desperate AAI to catch the elusive animals. Cameras placed near the traps have captured footage of jackals sizing up the traps and studiously avoiding them displaying incredible survival instincts.
Shooting jackals is out of the question as they are a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. At best they can be caught and rehabilitated in forests.
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) is partnering AAI to find a solution to the airport´s festering jackal problem. A ZSI official disclosed that jackals sneak into the airport complex by digging burrows outside the boundary walls or fencing which provide a safe passage inside.
04/03/18 S. N. M. Abdi/Al Arabiya
0 comments:
Post a Comment