Pola is a bull-worshipping festival, which will be celebrated all over Vidarbha on Monday. However, its second day (Tuesday) will be celebrated as padwa when many people consume meat marking the end of the auspicious month of Shravan. In process wild animals are targeted for meat.

There have been reports of sudden activity of suspicious elements moving in forest areas surrounding parks in Gondia, Bhandara, Chandrapur and Nagpur. Sources said a gang of suspected poachers was seen near Surewani area of Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) near Mansinghdeo sanctuary on Sunday.

Saleghat range forest officer (RFO) Sanjay Deshpande said message had been passed on to the field staff and an alert had been sounded. However, protection may take a hit as foresters, forest guards and van majoors are launching indefinite strike from Monday to press for their various demands.

When sought to know, FDCM's general manager for Nagpur Region TK Choubey said, "We have already sounded an alert. Owing to Pola padwa wild animals are targeted. We have formed three teams one each in Nagpur, Gondia and Bhandara to monitor the situation."

Meanwhile, Raj Madankar of Aranya has demanded involving local wildlife volunteers for patrolling in forest areas on the lines of Holi.