Similipal Tiger Reserve: Over 100 poachers this year amid anti-poaching efforts

Bhubaneswar: Authorities of Similipal Tiger Reserve on Tuesday arrested two poachers and forced seven others to surrender with country-made guns after AI cameras detected a hunting attempt inside the core area.Wildlife officials said based on captured images of poachers, wildlife personnel were deployed and the two were caught. Later, with the help of the local sarpanch, seven others surrendered, taking the total number of poachers apprehended this year to over 100.“With the intervention of Similipal Wildlife Intelligence Network (SWIN) staff, the local sarpanch was asked to convince the accused persons to surrender.

Other fugitive poachers surrendered along with five country-made guns at Podadiha wildlife range office in the presence of their sarpanch and ward members. The sarpanch also assured to de-weaponise the entire panchayat after meeting with villagers,” said Similipal deputy director (south division), Samrat Gowda.The accused have been identified as Mara Sing, 50, and Gobinda Soren, 35. The ones who surrendered are Champai Sing, 48, Pradhan Sing, 28, Kara Sing, 30, Kanda Gagrai, 35, Ainthu Singh, 40, Ram Singh Gagrai, 25, and Thakura Soren, 25.

Similipal authorities said the two poachers were arrested after wildlife personnel laid a trap in the village after identifying their faces through AI cameras. When the poachers reached the village, they were caught, but seven of them fled and surrendered later.Four days ago, reserve authorities arrested a wanted poacher and smuggler involved in the trading of elephant tusks after 18 months of chase. In Nov 2023, poachers killed an elephant and took away the tusks.

Earlier, 22 people had been arrested in this connection.“Our special drive against the poachers will continue until the villagers are de-weaponised and poaching completely stops. Hence, we are taking up confidence-building measures among panchayat representatives, and with their assistance, we want to curb poaching completely,” Gowda added.