Patrolling in forest areas of Ganjam district intensified

Berhampur: Patrolling in the forest areas of Ganjam district was strengthened with deployment of additional staff by the forest department after death of five elephants in a span of one week.

"We are revamping patrolling in the jungle areas by engaging para-staffs in different areas following death of the elephants in the district", regional chief conservator of forest, Berhampur Jitendra Kumar said.

Besides regular forest staff, contractual staff were also engaged in the wildlife protection squads for massive patrolling in the areas, he said. Combing operation was also conducted in various places to nab the culprits behind the killing of the elephants in Gallery, Khallikote and Buguda forest ranges.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ghumusar (North) K.Ch Mishra said they have almost doubled the patrolling squads from Sunday by engaging more contractual staffs.

"We have also declared awards for the informers, who provide the information about the persons who laid electric wires for poaching in the jungle areas", he said.

Forest officials have meanwhile arrested a person in connection with the poaching the elephants at Gallery forest range on Saturday, said Mishra.

The accused person was identified as Santosh Nayak (42) of Lendhei village in Tarsingi police station limit. Two other persons, allegedly involved in the poaching of the elephants by electrocution, however remained at large, he said.

Earlier, the forest staffs had arrested another person in connection with the killing and looting of tusk of a tusker in Buguda forest range on September 26 last.