Five armed poachers nabbed in Kuldiha Sanctuary after stealing over 15 trap cameras

Five armed poachers have been arrested by the Forest Department in Odisha’s Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Balasore after they were captured on a spy camera while stealing trap cameras. The poachers, in an attempt to evade detection, had stolen over 15 trap cameras installed by the Forest Department.

Forest Department’s Strategic Countermeasure

According to reports, the trap cameras had been strategically placed across the sanctuary to track movement and activity, especially that of poachers. However, the poachers repeatedly removed the devices to avoid getting caught on camera. In response, the department discreetly installed a spy camera near one of the trap camera locations.

Arrest Made Following Visual Evidence

On April 28, the spy camera captured visuals of five armed poachers while they were stealing a trap camera. Based on the footage and subsequent investigation, the Forest Department tracked them down and arrested them from the Chemcheta beat area under the Kuldiha range.

Weapons and Hunting Materials Seized

The arrested individuals belong to Narsingsila village near the Chemcheta beat. From their possession, forest officials recovered axes, bows and arrows, gunpowder, a deer horn, and items used to make country-made firearms.

Forest Official Confirms Ongoing Probe

“We had received inputs that some of the trap cameras we installed were missing. Based on that, we started investigating who stole the cameras. But we could not gather any intel. For this reason, we also put in a spy camera and identified five armed poachers who entered the sanctuary to hunt. They belong to Narsingsila village near Chemcheta beat. From their possession, we recovered guns, gunpowder, a deer horn, and other items,” said a forest official.

“We are further investigating the case, and if new information comes up, then we will inform the media. The trap cameras were destroyed, as per the arrested poachers. However, we have pictures of the poachers stealing them and we are investigating the matter,” the official added.