BHUBANESWAR: The wildlife personnel on Monday night arrested two poachers for allegedly attempting to kill animals in Banogochha forest in Mahanadi wildlifedivision. A sharp weapon was seized from them.
They were identified as Arjun Pradhan and PanuMajhi, both belong to Nayagarh district. They admitted that they were planning to lay a trap to kill wild boar, official sources said.
"Taking advantage of summer, when the animals such as deer, sambar and wild boar descend from forest to drink water at the natural stream in the forest, the poachers had planned the hunt. Local intelligence helped us get early information about their movement following which the anti-poaching squad swooped down on them," said divisional forest officer (Mahanadi wildlife division) AnshuPragyan Das.
Official sources said the concentration of wild animals in summer is more near the water bodies and they squad has been asked to remain on alter to prevent killing of animals.
One Mahindra Mallick, from Banigochha, who used to be hardcore poacher, is now working with the wildlife wing to stop poaching. He is helping the authorities to get tips about the poachers' movements.
"The inputs of the hardcore poachers, who have shunned the killing of animals on their own has helped us check poaching to a considerably extent," said the senior wildlife officer.
