Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The wildlife rescuers community in Marathwada has demanded life insurance coverage of Rs 50 lakh and identity cards, among other benefits.Members of the community recently met Jalna Congress MLA Kailash Gorantyal and requested him to raise their demands in the winter session of the state legislature.The wildlife rescuers rescue snakes and other wild creatures by risking their lives.The duties discharged by them also save the lives of citizens. The state government, therefore, must provideinsurance cover, a statement issued by the Nisarga Rakshak Prani Mitra Sanghatana said.Among other key demands, the wildlife rescuers have demanded an honorarium for every rescue call. Currently, rescuers respond to rescue calls and visit the sites at their own expense. People sometimes voluntarily give money for these efforts. However, the government should fix an honorarium per call, rescue expert Manoj Gaikwad said.The wildlife rescuers have also pressed for employment opportunities in the disaster management units of the state and the Centre.Claiming an increase in the number of rescue calls due to growing human-wildlife conflict, rescue experts have pressed for official recognition for their work. While rescue operations involving different wildlife creatures take place throughout the year, those associated with snakes witness a surge during the rainy season and mating seasons of different snake varieties.Gorantyal said he would give a voice to the demand raised by wildlife rescuers. Maharashtra forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar could not be reached for comment. We also published the following articles recentlyCongress MLAs pledge 1-mnth salary to rescuersNineteen Uttarakhand Congress MLAs will donate a months salary to honor the rescue personnel, rat-hole miners, and the 41 trapped workers who were successfully evacuated from the Silkyara tunnel. Despite the use of heavy machinery and government funds, the ultimate success in the mission came from the efforts of rat-hole miners, unnamed laborers, and ordinary technical personnel. Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat questioned the adequacy of the state governments announcement to give Rs 50,000 to each rat-hole miner, suggesting that the amount should match their contribution.Indonesia rescuers find last missing hiker on volcano, toll rises to 23The death toll from the volcano eruption in Indonesias Mount Marapi has risen to 23 after the last missing hiker was found dead. Rescuers have been working tirelessly to find the missing hikers, but the search effort has been hampered by further eruptions and bad weather. The volcano, known as the Mountain of Fire, erupted on Sunday, spewing an ash tower taller than the volcano itself. Officials have blamed hikers for going too close to the crater, despite warnings to stay away. Indonesia experiences frequent volcanic activity due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.Exotic weeds pose threat to wildlife in Karnatakas national parksApproximately 40 to 50 percent of the core areas of major national parks in Karnataka are invaded by exotic weeds, impacting wildlife movement. Forest minister acknowledges the prevalence of invasive species like lantana and parthenium. Efforts to control the weeds have been ongoing for over a decade, but resource constraints limit the progress. The forest department is seeking Rs 1,200 crore over the next three years to address the issue. Concerns have been raised about the impact on prey density and grassland growth.

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