As villagers kill them by spreading live wire
After getting confirmed that poaching of wild animals is a regular affair with live electric wires spread to kill them, the Sundargarh forest officials are now worried about the safety of a black panther, a tiger and other wild animals , whose photos were captured in a camera recently, in the Hemgiri forest range.
The Forest Department has written to Wesco authorities in this regard and asked to take appropriate action.
Significantly, a local youth had died in electrocution, after coming in contact with a live wire on a path in forest on Wednesday evening. The police have started a manhunt to nab the culprits.
During investigation in the case, the police came to know that the live wire, which was charged from an 11KV line, was deliberately laid by nearby villagers to target some forest animals. Significantly, there are number of wild animals roaming in the Hemgiri forest range. A black panther was first spotted in the forest range during the month of May this year. Recently, a Royal Bengal Tiger was also spotted in the forest range. According to sources, there are two watch towers and there are some close circuit camera in the forest under Hemgiri forest range but for safety purpose, these safety devices are inadequate. The locals are frequently trying to kill animals by various weird ways which is a worrying factor.
Sources said three persons have lost their lives in the forest in last three years due to electrocution.
“It is really worrying factor for us that electric wires are being laid inside forest to trap animals,” said Hemgiri Ranger Habiram Choudhury, adding, “We have recently written to the Executive Engineer, Wesco, Sundargarh to change the electric wire with cable in forest. If the cable will be replaced with wire, people trying to trap wild animals, will not be successful .”
Meanwhile, a panther in Hemgiri forest killed as many as 11 goats of one Kapila Khilari, a resident of Rangiadipa near Hemgiri while he had gone to graze the goats inside forest.