Poachers at Similipal forest aim different

The New Indian Express , Friday, April 12, 2013
Correspondent : Siba Mohanty
With the “Mahabishuba Sankranti” only days away, Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) is on high alert. In the last 10 days, the authorities have thwarted at least 50 attempts of poachers entering the reserve. Ritualistic hunting, or “akhand shikar” as it is called, has been the biggest bane of the tiger reserve and the management this time is trying to out-think the poachers.

The STR management has worked out a broad strategy to prevent “akhand shikar” through awareness generation and strict enforcement measures. Since April 1, a special operation has been launched as part of which a large posse of forest officials and protection assistants have been mobilised in Similipal in multiple groups to take on the poachers.

Consisting of about 300 forest officials including five DFOs, three ACFs, 19 range officers, 50 foresters, 150 forest guards along with 400 protection assistants (PAs), the army of forest personnel are engaged in patrolling within STR.

To supplement enforcement, the STR has taken some fresh initiative. Since the last three days to Sankranti is considered very important, an innovative strategy has been drawn up this year in the adjoining villages of STR covering 10 forest ranges where archery tournaments are being hosted beginning Thursday.

The three-day archery tournaments will have the twin objective of engaging poachers in a competitive atmosphere and thereby prevent hunting while educating them about wildlife conservation through incentives. Each range officer has been allotted about ` 10,000 to spend on these camps where archery competitions are being held.

“Since the young and old alike in the tribal villages are into hunting using traditional weapons such as bow and arrow, the competitions will give them a platform to show their skills without targeting wild animals. While the contestants will be educated about conservation, winners will be rewarded which will act as an incentive against poaching,” Field Director Anup Kumar Nayak said.

Social organisations have been roped in to conduct awareness campaigns about consequences of mass hunting and the legal provisions and penalties they draw.

Awareness campaigns apart, focus will be on combating the hunters. Landscape level combing operations are being taken up jointly by core and buffer staff who are carrying raids at vulnerable pockets in and around STR. Intelligence collection is being headed by Deputy Director of STR BR Dash.

Base camps have been set up at Nigardha, Badakhaman, Baniabasa, Talabandha, Thakurmunda, Jenabil and Bhanjabasa where the Field Director along with DFOs and ACFs will be stationed prior to Pana Sankranti. Each team has been provided with arms and vehicles for patrolling.

Special anti-poaching drive is also being carried out in Baripada, Karanjia, Rairangpur and STR core divisions. Honorary Wild Life Wardens of Mayurbhanj have been engaged to support to the exercise.

 
SOURCE : http://newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Poachers-at-Similipal-forest-aim-different/2013/04/12/article1541448.ece
 


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