With the arrest of a poacher and seizure of several equipments, forest officials on Saturday claimed to have foiled hunting of wild animals, particularly elephants, in the Buguda Forest Range of Ganjam district.
Purna Chandra Nayak of Belapada had been arrested and around 1,000 metres of electric wires, some bottles and bamboos were seized from the Tangara Reserve Forest on Thursday during joint raids by personnel of Forest Department and power supply company Southco.
Five others who allegedly laid the wires to electrocute wild animals, however, managed to escape from the spot, a forest officer said, adding that the area is identified as one of the elephant corridors and a herd of seven elephants is roaming there.
Incidents of poaching of elephants by electrocution in Ganjam district are rampant. At least ten elephants and some other animals like wild boar perished in the district in 2012 due to poaching, particularly by electrocution.
Forest officials had arrested at least three elephant poachers last year from the Sorada area in the district. “In a precautionary measure to prevent poaching of wild animals, particularly elephants, we are disrupting power supply to the particular area with the help Southco after getting the information,” said a forest officer.
The power cuts are also made during the night when the elephant herds camp near villages, he said.