Poaching Incidents Were On Rise In 2020: Odisha PCCF

Bhubaneswar: Poaching of wild animals witnessed a rise in the year 2020, informed PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden Hari Shankar Upadhyay on Friday.

"The incidents of poaching skyrocketed especially during the lockdown and shutdown period due to improper surveillance by forest staff," Upadhyay told reporters.

However, in a bid to tighten the noose around the poachers the PCCF has made several arrangements to be implemented in 2021, including restarting of the training of Hathi Sathi and Watchers which were halted last year due to COVID restrictions.

Taking a leaf out of other states who are conducting successful elephant management mechanism, the PCCF made it a point to follow the model of states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand whichever will be deemed fit considering Odisha's climatic conditions and geography.

As far as the Tigress Sundari is concerned, the PCCF said that a final decision regarding the matter will be taken in 2021.

"A tiger can only be left here in Satkosia after ensuring safe cohabitation by villagers and the animal," said Upadhyay.

The PCCF also directed officials to enhance the information network to curb the rise cases of poaching.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)