The Bhitarkanika National Park has turned a safe haven for the poachers and taxidermists as unabated poaching of spotted deer, wild boar and sambar has been going on in its forests.

Since the covert act is on for past several years, the very involvement of some of unscrupulous forest personnel cannot be ruled out, it is alleged.

The wildlife lovers and forest officials feared that if the poaching was not stopped, some very rare species like spotted deer, sambar and wild boar would vanish from the park within a couple of decades.

It may be noted here that Royal Bengal tigers were also in Bhitarkanika during the1970s. Royal Bengal tiger skins are still preserved in Chandabali forest range office. But due to haunting, the tiger population completely vanished from the national park.

If reliable sources are to be believed, poaching is rampant at the forests of Rangani, Pravati,Kantiakhai,Barahapita and Subarnapur.

Mostly poachers from Khamarsahi, Budadiha, Pravati ,Gupti, Jarimula of Rajnagar block and Charadia, Kainthakhola and Chandanipal area of Bhadrak district slyly enter into these forests and kill animals by being hand in glove with some of forest officials. The poachers most often kill wild boar, spotted deer and sambar with the help of haunting dogs and through trapping.

They transport the meat to Dhamara, Rajkanika, Jarimula and Paradip locality. In black market the meat of wild boar is sold at Rs220 per kg, whereas venison is sold at Rs280.

Even, the skin of the wild boar, sambar and spotted deer are illegally transported to West Bengal. Though the forest personnel are aware about the fact that a local taxidermist has been transporting the skins to West Bengal, but they remain silent by taking bribe, alleged locals.

The wildlife lovers demanded stern action against the venal forest personnel as well as immediate halt to poaching.