Ranpur: Patharganda project under Pancharida range of Nayagarh forest division has been a haven for poachers with nine wild animals poached in last month itself.
The nearby Dama Sahi sal forest is house to a good number of wild animals including barking deer and wild boars. These animals come down to the project under Ranpur minor irrigation department in the wee hours to quench their thirst. Cashing in on it, poachers are killing them.
“Five wild boars and four barking deer were killed at the project site in last month,” said some villagers on the condition of anonymity.
Earlier poachers used to go deep into the jungle to kill animals. After noticing animals coming to the project site to quench their thirst, they are hunting them at the project itself. The modus operandi is either to set dogs on them or to shoot them directly. As it is not always free from danger to hunt animals by shooting, they opt for the other option.
“Out of nine animals, seven were killed by setting dogs on them,” said a poacher wishing not to be named.
As local people are said to be involved in these incidents, the incidents hardly get reported.
A pack of dogs attacked a barking deer July 31 morning. The wounded animal took shelter in a house at Damasahi. Some of the local young men rescued it from the canines but feasted on it.
Nayagarh divisional forest officer Dhanraj HD said, “The investigation into the case of a barking deer being killed July 31 is going on. It is getting affected as local people are not cooperating. However, we are hopeful that the culprits would soon be brought to book.”
PNN