Forest officers of the Kuldiha sanctuary on Wednesday arrested and court-forwarded a poacher after seizing deer and mouse-deer meat and firearms from his possession.
The arrested was identified as lopa Singh (50) of Tenda village. According to information, a gang of six poachers had intruded into the jungle for hunting of wildlife animals. After a chase, the patrolling staffs could arrest lopa only. The rest five managed to flee.
“About 4 kg venison and two country-made guns were seized from the accused,” said DFO Harsh Bardhan Udgata.
In another incident, a fire broke out inside the sanctuary and was doused with the help of blowers. The blaze spread in Telipal, Bhejigotha, and Dwaraksuni, said departmental sources. “The fire was small in nature, which spread from the village end. It might have happened accidently or someone might have committed mischief as residents at times set fire to collect Mahua. The flame was brought under control by our staffs with help of blowers,,” said Udgata .
The DFO informed that, besides forest staffs, 70 hired persons are on the job of fire control exercise. All the identified beat houses have been provided with VHF sets, and 13 fire blowers given to them. Around 400 km fire-line has been drawn,” the DFO said in response to a question on checking fire spread in the sanctuary.
He too stated that two satellites, SNPP (Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership) and MODIS (moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer), have been providing information on happenings inside the sanctuary thrice a day.