After trying out various innovative strategies to control poaching, Simlipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha has now got its canine investigating team for the purpose. It is a two-dog unit having a German Shepherd and a labrador along with its handlers trained by the BSF.
“The squad has been acquired after nearly nine month of efforts, with the support of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, “ said Anup Kumar Nayak, Field Director STR and Regional Chief Conservator of Forests, Baripada Forest Division. It has been trained at the National Training Centre for Dogs (NTCD) under the BSF at Tekanpur in Madhya Pradesh.
The German Shepherd is a sniffer and the labrador a tracker. A special module was devised for the two canines at NTCD. They have been specially trained to investigate cases of poisoning, particularly in the areas of salt licks having natural mineral deposits where the elephants and other wild animals come for their intake of nutrients from the earth, said Nayak.
The dogs have been given special training in identifying different types of poisons. Those used in these forests largely come in the form of insecticides/cyanides which are spread in the salt lick areas or even water holes, said Nayak.
Poachers use specific poisons to kill large animals like elephants. Then, hunting sprees also occur during the hunting rituals such as Rajo and Akhand Shikar, which are traditional tribal festivals.
“Although we have been able to control the hunting of wild animals during these festivals in the past one year, the trained labrador can now largely help us by tracking the hunters,” said Nayak. The tracker dogs can also lead the investigators to the source of the poison, which will enable them to not only arrest the perpetrators but also help in curbing the trend. Further, the deployment of dog squad in the forests will also work as a deterrent to the villagers against poaching/ hunting of wild animals,” he said.
The canines, with the handlers and two forest guards, are currently posted at Jashipur and kennels are being built for them. The squad will not be stationed at one point but will be kept mobile from one place to another basing on their utility.
Simlipal Tiger Reserve, also known for its elephants, had been notorious for rampant poaching of elephants for their tusks. In 2010, a large number of jumbo carcasses were exhumed from Simlipal in putrefied condition. The situation has, however, improved since then following the surrender of dreaded poachers from the fringe villages which have been transformed into protectors. The management is also working on providing Identity cards to the local villagers to prevent the entry of outsiders for poaching, largely from Jharkhand.
Meanwhile, Russian and Belorussian firms offered their trucks to the Defence Ministry in the last few months as a replacement for Tatra as the Russian and Belorussian made trucks carry their strategic missiles. However, the government is yet to take a decision regarding these offers, officials said.