Sendra, the annual hunting festival of the adivasis, was observed peacefully under tight security arrangements and awareness campaigns by the Ranchi wildlife division.
Officials informed that though tribals entered into the Dalma wildlife sanctuary Sunday late evening, could not hunt a single animal. Though unconfirmed reports said that four wild boars and two sloth bears were killed but the forest department failed to confirm.
“The festival passed away peacefully. Our efforts to educated tribals brought positive results,” Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Pradeep Kumar. Kumar was at the Pinderbera forest guest house to supervise the security networking. Celebrating the festival by two tribal outfits–Dalma Sendra Buru Samity and Dalma Sendra Buru Dishua Samity–on a single day also helped faced the situation.
The check points of forest department at Ghatshila, Bahragora, Pipla, Hata and Raghunathpur played a key role in preventing hunters from heading to the sanctuary. The forest department had also requested the Chakradharpur railway division to not allow tribals travel in trains with firearms.