Come Dussehra and the worries of the tiger reserve officials worsen. On the day of Dussehra, the villagers living in the contiguity of the tiger reserve hold a feast and deer meat comes most handy in their lunch and dinner.
“Deer hunting increases during this period”, sources said. Holi is another festival when deer meat gets much in demand. A goat’s meat is sold for Rs220 to Rs230 a kilo but deer meat is cheaper and it has to be disposed quickly for fear of being caught, they said.
The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the core tiger reserve, Premjit Anand, concedes that the festival times are hard times for the officials as villagers do not refrain from harming the wildlife here.Anand said that certain steps have been taken to thwart killing of deer but the expanse of the tiger reserve is 1,026 square kilometer and with fast depleting human resources like forest guards, foresters — a proper vigil is definitely wanting.
Deer is hunted without guns as gun shots alarm the officials in the jungles. The poachers use a snare (or better called a trap) made of a thin wire of any cycle tube which if trodden by any unsuspecting deer, it is surer to lose its life as the snare or trap gags it to death.The snare is laid near water body, water hole or en route to such a place which is quite and bushier. Patrolling has been toned up in the PTR. However, the PTR faces hardship as personnel either goes on leave or skip duties.
DFO buffer, AK Mishra, who is now holding the charge of DFO North forest, said he is having a lot of work as raids against kendu leaves are underway, nevertheless, he is conscious of the safety of the wild life falling in his buffer area of the PTR.Kuchilla Ookamar is one the belts which is known for its notoriety for deer killing and its skinning off. A deer skin is used in worship also.