Periodic demonstrations in schools and industries turned to be of immense utility for a Fire and Rescue service team attached to the Sathyamangalam station to save two deer from drowning in a well at Kenjanur village on the fringes of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve last week.
A group of three deer that had strayed away from the forest had fallen into a well where water depth exceeded 30 feet.
The surface was about 50 feet below the ground, and it took one hour for the personnel to position the ropes for rescuing the animals that were desperately swimming to keep themselves afloat.
Firemen Ganeshamoorthy and Saravanan persisted with their efforts to catch hold of the deer one after the other despite the frantic animals hurting them while attempting to wriggle away, Station Officer Jegadeesan who supervised the operation said.
Treated
In all, seven personnel were involved in rescuing the three deer, in an operation lasting two-and-a-half hours. But, one had died of shock. Two other deer were let into the forest after being treated by a veterinarian.
“We keep ourselves fit for such rescue acts through imparting training programs in schools and industries. The demonstrations have stood us in good stead to succeed in real-time situations,” Mr. Jegadeesan said.
The Fire and Rescue personnel have recorded rescue of deer in similar situations twice in the last two years: one at Vinnapally and the other at a farm along Thengumarahada road, the Station Fire Officer said, adding that the personnel will be in a ‘ready to respond’ mode at least for the next one or two months due to the dryness inside the forest area that would drive animals towards wells.
