Two out of the 10 trap cameras set up by the forest department to track the movement of tigers in Keonjhar’s Patana forest range have allegedly been stolen.
It is suspected that the poachers might have stolen them to evade notice.
The theft of the cameras has put the lives of the tigers, more particularly the Royal Bengal Tigers (RBT) recently spotted in the area, in danger.
A written complaint in this connection has been filed by the Forest department in the Ghatagaon Police Station.
As per the Forest department, the RBT was there in the Keonjhar forest before too. And the news about its existence has put its life at risk now.
Speaking about the incident, Keonjhar ACFO, Ghanshyam Mohanta said, “We have installed 10 cameras in Attei reserve forest under Patana range. We came to know that two of the cameras have been missing from their places. We have filed a complaint at police station.”
“We will get those cameras back soon. Because those cameras are of no use to a civilian. I think poachers have stolen it thinking their acts might have been captured by the camera,” he added.
Two Royal Bengal Tigers were spotted - one in the Ghatagaon Forest range of Keonjhar district and the other in the Debrigarh Sanctuary near Bargarh recently.
The one at Keonjhar is believed to be around 3-4 years old. The RBT is suspected to have reached Ghatagaon from Similipal to Satakosia through Karanjia. The movement of the tiger was captured on its way back to Similipal, reports said.
(Reported By Pranay Pani, OTV)