Forest dept keeps cages around Indore airport to trap foxes

In the wake of an incident in Surat in which a private airline hit a buffalo while proceeding for a take-off, the forest department here have placed some cages around the city airport to trap foxes that pose a danger to the movement of aircraft on the runway.
A wild fox was today trapped in one of the six cages installed around the airport, making it the second catch after November 7, an official said.
"As part of the ongoing drive of trapping the foxes sneaking into the runway of Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport, we have set up six cages. A fox walked into one of the cages today," Sub Divisional Officer (Forest) R N Saxena told PTI.

The fox was later released in the nearby Charol forest area, he added.
"The population of foxes around the airport is posing a danger for the planes as twice or thrice these animals had come close to the aircraft. Luckily, due to the alert and agile pilots no untoward incident has taken place," an airport officer said.
According to an expert, the thicket on the airport premises here is home to around 15 to 20 foxes.
A Delhi-bound Spicejet plane with 146 people on board had hit a buffalo on November 6 while proceeding for take-off in Surat town in Gujarat.

Though nobody was injured in the incident, the aircraft was damaged and the airline had suspended operations for a brief period.