New Delhi: A toll-free number would be soon available for wildlife lovers to call and report about poaching and other illegal activities involving wild animals.

The number to be set up by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau aims to strengthen surveillance to check rampant poaching and protect forest wealth in the country. "We are in the process of talks with the postal and telecommunication department to get the number to be used free of cost by any person keen to report about illegal activities, for instance when they see their neighbour keeping an exotic bird " a senior wildlife official said here.

He added a control room is being set up at their headquarters in the capital for better communication once the toll number starts functioning. The pilot project will be first implemented in Delhi on an experimental basis and then extended to other metros across the country.

"The toll free number would play an important role in encouraging people to report illegal wildlife activities," the official said observing that one of the major cause for rampant poaching and assault on wildlife was poor monitoring and surveillance.

The facility would be available 24 hours, 7 days a week, he added. On getting the call, the control room to be manned by three officials will take requisite action and would forward the information to the higher ups.