Nimesh Khakhariya | TNN | Updated: Aug 6, 2019, 8:18 IST
RAJKOT: She had shot to limelight in 2008 as the first woman forest
guard in Gir National Park, the last abode of Asiatic lions. Her
exemplary courage in rescuing ferocious animals has drawn global
applause.
Now, gun-totting 33-year-old Rasila Wadher is all set to
head the entire rescue department of the sanctuary. In fact, Wadher will
be the first woman to helm this crucial post ever since the department
was formed 22 years ago. On an average, 700 rescue operations are
undertaken in four districts - Junagadh, Gir-Somnath, Amreli and Bhavnagar - in a year.
Wadher,
who has rescued 1,100 wild animals in her decade-long career, will now
oversee these operations, which has become more challenging due to lions
frequently straying close to human habitations. In Gir, she will be
handling a team of 18 trackers, but her job is not limited to the four
districts.
"Whenever there is a rescue call anywhere in Gujarat
and there are no experts available, our teams rush to those places,"
said Wadher, who was promoted as sanctuary inspector two months ago. In
2008, Wadher was offered the posting in forest department's back office.
But itching for a field job, she applied for recruitment as forest
guard and got selected.
"Mine is a 24 hours job because you never
know what would happen and where," said Wadher, mother of a
nine-month-old boy whom she takes along sometimes when there is no one
at home to take care.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/girs-lion-queen-to-head-wildlife-rescue-department/articleshow/70545370.cms
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