The vigil has been beefed up in Betla National Park following the finding of pregnant deer. Sources said the pregnant animal becomes more vulnerable to poaching in winter as locals look upon their meat as a source of protein.
Member of state wild life board DS Srivastava told The Pioneer that pregnant deer is all the more vulnerable since its speed slows down. Similar opinion was of DFO Core of the Palamu Tiger Reserve AK Mishra who said the deer is highly prone to poaching and hence vigil has been tightened in the park. The official however expressed inability to give the exact number of deer going to be become mother soon saying. The animal’s mating season falls in winters.
The reserve management is also worried as about one of the sniffer dogs digging out a snare device laid by poachers for deers about eight weeks ago. The snare device is made of thin wire taken from the cycle tyre and is used as death trap for deer. Officials say that the hunters lay this snare device near water body as at water body, the place often frequented by the animals.
The poachers also know the routes of deer as the animal usually roam the most in areas abundant with palatable grass pastures.