Keonjhar: Two trap cameras out of 10 installed to keep track of the movement of Royal Bengal Tigers (RBTs) in the Atei reserve forest within Tando beat of the Patana forest section has been reportedly stolen.
According to reports, a special team from Bhubaneswar had installed 10 trap cameras to track the movement of the big cats. However, two of the cameras are now missing from the Atei reserve forest. Patana forester Chittatanjan Parida has lodged a complaint with the Ghatagaon police station in this regard.
Traps cameras installed at Rohiniduma and Badapichula have been stolen following which a complaint has been lodged, said Patana ranger Ghasinath Patra. Reportedly, police have also launched a probe to trace the miscreants behind the act.
After the movement of RBTs was noticed at Attei reserve forest, the forest department installed trap cameras to keep track of the big cats. While entry into the reserve forest has been restricted, poachers lurking in the wild might have fled with the trap camera to avoid detection.
It is pertinent to mention here that a section of indigenous people of the area set out for hunting during the period between Holi to Pana Sankranti. They enter the reserve forest with bow and arrow to hunt wild animals for sport.
Alert citizens have alleged that due to less patrolling, intrusion in the reserve forest is on the rise. They have questioned how can the forest department safeguard the tigers if they can not save the cameras from getting stolen.
A five-member team under the ACF has been formed to keep a round-the-clock vigil on the movement of RBTs while Patana and Ghatagaon Rangers are assisting them in the task. Despite such arrangements, stealing of trap cameras has brought the lacunas of the forest department to the fore.
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