Sendra (Bishu Shikar), the annual hunting festival of tribals, was reduced to a

symbolic affair with almost no animal casualty at Dalma wildlife sanctuary on

Monday.

Senior forest department officials heaved a sigh of relief even though

unconfirmed reports said some animals were killed at Chaliyama village inside

the sprawling 192 sq km sanctuary, some 35 km from Jamshedpur.

The tribals, who had sneaked inside the sanctuary last night itself, came across

as a tired lot with dropped shoulders. A group of 32 tribals from Seraikela was

seen melting into the core area without any success. “ We did not get

anything. Came across two elephants and a wild boar. But we could not hunt

the wild boar,” said a tribal.

Forest officials monitored the security and remained busy receiving inputs on

the progress of the festival. “No animal has been killed. Our efforts to spread

awareness among villagers about the futility of killing animals has done the

trick. We were successful in making Sendra symbolic,” said an official.

Patrolling inside the sanctuary as well as NH 33 was intense. “We came across

a group of tribals who had surrounded a rabbit and were all set to kill it. But

we shouted and diverted their attention and the animal slipped into the bush.

We also spoke to the group and asked them not to kill animals,” he informed,

adding they also seized some traps.

A group of some tribals had also lit fire at a few sections of the sanctuary. The

fire was aimed at driving away elephants so that they can kill animals.

The official thanked the members of Dalma eco development committee for

helping them in stopping animal casualty. “We also spoke to Dolma Buru

Sendra Samity chief priest Rakesh Hembrom and Dolma Buru Sendra Dishua

Samity general secretary Ishwar Chandra Soren with a request to help the

forest department in its efforts to prevent killing of animals.

The forest department had paid special attention to the vulnerable Patamda

side of the sanctuary. Two rangers and a 20-member team patrolled the area

and camped there since last night.

Checkpoints along NH 33, including Pardih and Fadlugora, also went a long way

in preventing tribals from going to the sanctuary with firearms.