The Wild Orissa, in association with the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) administration, organised a series of programmes for conservation of wildlife in the STR recently focusing their activities in the villages located in remote forest areas of the Thakurmunda Forest Range.
The stretch of forest including Similipal Reserved Forest spread over an area of 2,750 km was declared as ‘Tiger Reserve’ with effect from December 4,1973 under ‘Project Tiger’ scheme of the Union Government. It has been conferred with legal status as per provisions of Section 38V of Wildlife (Conservation) Act, 1972 during 2007. The notification has clearly indicated with boundary description of Critical Tiger Habitat (Core) extending over 1194.75 km 2 and buffer area of 1555.25 km². There are three inhabitated villages inside the Critical Tiger Habitat and 65 villages in the buffer area.
The Wild Orissa being aware of problems which have a long tradition in these parts, some of which like the annual mass hunting ritual and forest fires have posed a big challenge for the forest and wildlife administration, has through its ‘Similipal Conservation Programme’ launched proactive initiatives to control this menace, which has had taken a large toll of our wildlife in the past, said Wild Orissa chief spokesperson Kulamani Deo.
The month of April is a period of concern for all stakeholders of Similipal forests and it is during this period that the most challenging issues come to the fore. The Wild Orissa has complemented and supplemented the efforts of Government agencies in tackling local issues.
A multipronged strategy has been worked out by the Wild Orissa for some of the problematic areas in the buffer area which includes, engaging with frontline forest protection personnel, involving institutional set-ups created by the STR administration like Sabuja Vahini, Tiger Protection Force (TPF), Vana Surakshya Samitis (VSS), etc. for more relevant interface with the local community, engaging with children and schools located in remote forest areas in STR, providing alternate engagements for keeping local communities engaged during pinch poaching/hunting periods, involving women groups including women SHGs in campaigns for anti-poaching drive and involving Honorary Wildlife Wardens of the district.
In keeping with the above, it held interactive sessions with frontline forest personnel and members from the Sabuja Vahini, TPF and VSS. Essay competition on the subject ‘Similipal and its conservation’ was held for different school children of the remote villages.
Further to sensitise the local communities rallies were taken out by children in the villages. In order to encourage fire control in forest areas, interactions with VSSs were conducted while interactive sessions were held with the members of women SHGs during which support was enlisted from their members to dissuade the men folk from engaging in poaching/hunting related activities.
A special cash award was given to a VSS which had successfully contained forest fire in its area.
Among others, Karanjia Divisional Forest Officer A Behera, Assistant Conservator of Forests A Mohanty, Honorary Wildlife Wardens of Mayurbhanj Sanjukta Basa and Bhanumitra Acharya, Similipal Conservation Programme head Shibaji Nayak and members of Wild Orissa were present during the occasion.