The officials of Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) are facing unusual poachers in form of stray dogs in the reserve’s surrounding areas. The dogs, developing a new taste for antelopes, have started hunting and eating the deers of the forests. Forest officials said that at least one or two cases were being reported every month for the last few months.
As a remedy the officials have decided to write to the veterinary department to either Trans-locate stray dog from its surroundings or castrate them so that their number does not get increased further.
“Problem is not like that….there are ample number of stray dogs in the adjacent villages and CRPF camps, located in the surroundings of Betla forest, who kill antelopes which sometimes stroll towards paddy fields near the villages,” said DFO (Core) of PTR AK Mishra. At least one or two such cases are reported every month, added the DFO.
As per an estimate of the forest department, there are at least 400 stray dogs in the surroundings of the Betla National Forest.
“Practically it is difficult to stop such incidents as there is no technique to stop the antelopes strolling towards the villages. It is also practically not possible to put a boundary wall around the Forest as it is scattered in a vast area,” said the DFO. Due to shortage of forest staffs, they cannot be deputed on the spot to drag them back towards the forests, he said.
Taking swift action, officials of Batla National Forest have decided to write to the District Veterinary department and also to the State Government to take proper action in this regard.
“We will write to the veterinary department and the State Government as well, to either castrate these dogs or get them trans-located taking help of some Non Government Organisation (NGO) or any other agency so that their growth could be checked then and there,” he added.
CRPF Headquarters will also be approached requesting it not to keep dogs in the camps located around the forest area, said the DFO.
Notably, Betla National Forest has more than 2000-2500 antelopes scattered in an area of 753 square kilometers.