Central Chronicle , Friday, June 10, 2005

Correspondent : Staff Reporter

Panchmarhi, June 9 Authorities of Satpura National Park, also a tiger reserve, have decided to set up an intelligence network and strengthen anti-poaching camps. "Intelligence network is very important to track down poachers. We are considering to set up such a network although incidents of poaching in the park are rare," Director of Satpura National Park R P Singh said. Strengthening anti-poaching camps was also necessary to tackle poachers, he said. The park, declared as the Satpura Tiger Reserve in 2000, has between 37 to 40 tigers at present, he said. The park includes the Bori and Panchmari sanctuaries. To a question, he said there were a few incidents of poaching and those involved in the killing of cheetals have been booked. Singh said park authorities apprehended that poachers might use Itarsi as the main point to smuggle out animal organs. "We have to keep a watch on a huge area of 1500 sq km covering Hosangabad, Khandwa, Betul," he said. Regarded as the home of the Indian bison, whose numbers are around 3,000, the park also has leopards, wild dogs, black bucks and chinkaras. A key problem in the national park was relocation of tribal villages. Park authorities said poachers sometimes used the services of poor tribals in hunting animals.

SOURCE : Central Chronicle, Friday, June 10, 2005