The Thane Forest Department (TFD), which earlier had to depend on the rescue team of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) to help and transport trapped leopards and wild animals, has now got a fully-equipped Rapid Response Unit (RRU) rescue truck of its own.

Eight rescue team members can be accomodated in the Rapid Rescue Unit vehicle. Pic/Emmanual Kharbari

Thane Deputy Forest Officer (DFO) KD Thakare told sunday mid-day, “We have our own rescue team in place now. There was a need of a proper rescue truck and looking at the number of rescue operations we have to do every year, the Wildlife Conservation Trust of India (WCTI) NGO have given us a fully-equipped Rapid Response Unit Vehicle. They gave it to us free of cost.”

The RRU vehicle is equipped with nets, ropes, tranquilising equipment, cages and torches that are required for rescuing wild animals. In all, six rescue team members can sit behind in the RRU vehicle and two in front.