Poachers get hunting chances as jungles are rendered inaccessible during rains.

Every time when Rajasthan receives rich monsoon, it brings joy to the desert state. But, a good monsoon also triggers a fear of poaching for the forest department. Reason, poachers get good chances of hunting wild animals during rainy season because the patrolling by forest guards decreases as jungles are rendered inaccessible by rain.

It was during the rainy season in 2005 when Sariska Tiger Reserve lost all its tigers. When an investigation was conducted and some poachers were arrested, they revealed that most of the animals were killed during monsoon as the movement of forest officials was negligible during that time. Besides, villagers also trespass forest areas during rains to graze their milch cattle on the new vegetation.

“During monsoons, the tracks and roads inside forests get damaged due to action of running water. This poses problem since patrolling parties cannot enter the jungles,” said a highly placed forest official who had earlier served as divisional forest officer at Sariska National Park requesting anonymity. He further added, “On the contrary the poachers who in most cases are villagers from periphery of forests, know of the animals tracks in the area and enter the interiors of forests on foot.”

“The tiger reserves of the state especially, Sariska, face a bigger threat as it is currently facing problems posed by villagers as well. The villagers even leave their cattle in the forest area for grazing the new vegetation. All these factors are posing a threat to wildlife in Sariska,” said the official.

Interestingly, in 2005 a Monsoon Protection Strategy was formed for strengthening security in forests during the rainy season but the same has not been enforced