Dhenkanal: Leopards in Dhenkanal forests have made a vanishing act if a recent report published by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is to be believed. The seven leopards that were wandering in different reserve forests just a year ago are nowhere to be seen now, as per the report. However, it is unclear whether the leopards have fallen prey to the poachers which has gone unnoticed by the Forest Department officials or they have moved into other forests. On the other hand, not a single photo of a leopard has been caught in the trap camera installed in the forest. So, the Forest Department is unable to provide accurate data about the availability of wild cats in the district.
As per the report, the last survey for tigers was conducted in 2017-18 which mentioned the presence of seven leopards in the district. The Forest department also insisted that the number of leopards is increasing in Koi and Kandhara reserve forests under the Hindol forest range on the frontier of Satkosia, Anantapur reserve forest under the Kamakhya Nagar forest range situated on the Keonjhar border, and in the biodiversity-rich Kapilash Wildlife Sanctuary.
Even Koi and Kandhara reserve forests were given special focus on the protection of leopards. Watchtowers were being erected and trap cameras were installed for keeping a watch on the activities of leopards. Trained gunmen were deployed to counter the poachers. The pictures of the leopards were captured in the camera on a regular interval. But now the photos of the leopards are not being captured in the trap cameras. Hence, concerns are being raised after Dhenkanal district is declared ‘leopard less’ in the recent report published by the Centre. The negative outcome has raised questions about the Forest Department’s style of functioning even though attempts were made to protect the leopards. Comprehensive security arrangements and huge investment in the project yield little result.
Meanwhile, the state government has started preparations for the census of tigers and elephants in the district as it believes the Union government’s data is unreliable. Divisional forest officer (DFO) Sumit Kar said the report released by the Centre mentions that there are no big cats in Dhenkanal forests. The state government will conduct a census of elephants and tigers again. The DFO said preparations for this fresh survey are in progress.