Expressing deep concern over death of increasing numbers of elephants and other animals, Odisha Krushak Mahasangha president and former MlA Bibhudhendra Pratap Das has urged the State Government to take urgent measures to protect wild animals from poachers for protection of environment.
Das met Forests and Environment Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh at his official chamber at the State Secretariat and made some important suggestions.
“Animals are important for protection of environment and development. Hence, their protection is badly necessary,” Das told the Minister and handed over newspaper clippings of deaths of over a hundred of animals, including elephants, tigers, bears and deer, to him.
He suggested that the Government soon announce to give Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 for informers of poachers and promise to keep their names secret. Besides, 24-hour anti-poacher mobile squads should be put into service in various animal-infested jungles across the State,” he said.
He advised the Minister to appoint retired Defence personnel with police power for the anti-poacher squads.
He appealed to the Minister to take steps for quick disposal of animal crime cases so that poachers would fear to commit crimes.
“A special court should be established at Angul for quick disposal of animal poaching cases,” suggested Das.
It may be noted that two pachyderms had been found dead in Chandikhole area on July 11 and, two days after on July 13, another elephant died in the Badamba area. Earlier on June 14, bodies of two elephants had died in Kamakshyanagar junle in Dhenkanal district. In June, a bear had been killed by villagers in Nabarangpur district as the bear had mauled two persons to death. A tusker had also been killed in Koraptu district in June.
What is more astonishing is that the Vigilance had found elephant tusks from a Sundargarh forest ranger’s house during a raid on June 24.