Poachers: With poachers ‘away’, guns fall silent in Similipal forest | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: With gun-totting tribals, most of them being poachers, living around the Similipal Tiger Reserve busy in the process to earn the quick buck, it is super serene for the animals. Similipal in Mayurbhanj district goes to poll on June 1.
For close to a year, a tug-of-war is going on between poachers and forest and police personnel since two forest personnel were killed by poachers.In a counter move, forest staff and police seized hundreds of country-made guns to root out poaching.
For the past two months, there has been a lull in poaching activities and respite for animals and field personnel. The professional hunters kill animals to sell those to hotels and individuals for consumption.
“The temporary break in poachers’ movement is due to the fact that villagers are getting more from parties compared to what they usually get from animal hunting. It is not that poachers community have special allegiance to any political party. It is because they don’t want to miss out on the money. Also, feasting and parties also are happening now,” said Bhanumitra Acharya, former honorary wildlife warden, who has three decades of experience studying Similipal.
In Similipal, away from the hustle and bustle of electioneering, the field personnel who include protection assistant (who are on contractual basis), ex-servicemen and personnel of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) are clueless about the outside world.
Field director, Similipal, Prakash Gogineni, said he can’t cite any particular reason for poaching not being reported in the past two months.
“Our personnel will have to be alert. Be it election or not they will have to do their duty. In many villages, villagers don’t like those who indulge in poaching. They don’t have great influence over people. But, certainly, for two months they are silent,” he told TOI.
For the past two weeks, the man-made fire in Similipal has also not been reported. Fire watchers and fire attending squads are still deployed for any untoward incident.
For close to a year, a tug-of-war is going on between poachers and forest and police personnel since two forest personnel were killed by poachers.In a counter move, forest staff and police seized hundreds of country-made guns to root out poaching.
For the past two months, there has been a lull in poaching activities and respite for animals and field personnel. The professional hunters kill animals to sell those to hotels and individuals for consumption.
“The temporary break in poachers’ movement is due to the fact that villagers are getting more from parties compared to what they usually get from animal hunting. It is not that poachers community have special allegiance to any political party. It is because they don’t want to miss out on the money. Also, feasting and parties also are happening now,” said Bhanumitra Acharya, former honorary wildlife warden, who has three decades of experience studying Similipal.
In Similipal, away from the hustle and bustle of electioneering, the field personnel who include protection assistant (who are on contractual basis), ex-servicemen and personnel of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) are clueless about the outside world.
Field director, Similipal, Prakash Gogineni, said he can’t cite any particular reason for poaching not being reported in the past two months.
“Our personnel will have to be alert. Be it election or not they will have to do their duty. In many villages, villagers don’t like those who indulge in poaching. They don’t have great influence over people. But, certainly, for two months they are silent,” he told TOI.
For the past two weeks, the man-made fire in Similipal has also not been reported. Fire watchers and fire attending squads are still deployed for any untoward incident.
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