Acting on a tip-off, Mayurbhanj police launched search operations at multiple locations in 14 police jurisdictions and arrested the poachers.
As per initial reports, a team consisting of ACF, ROs and dedicated staff of Similipal south, Similipal north and Rairangpur Division headed by Deputy director Similipal south division conducted a raid and recovered the tusks.
Apart from holding the protest, the agitating forest department employees also demanded fulfillment of their five-point charter of demands at the earliest.
According to sources, the tiger reserve will remain closed on May 4 and 5 as President Murmu will visit the national park on May 5 and will spend the entire day inside the sanctuary.
As per reports, forest fire engulfed five points in South Similipal, 29 points in North Similipal, three points in Karanjia forest division and five points in the Rairangpur division.
The members alleged that the political leaders are silent and the Odisha government is also not taking any measures for its protection.
Senior officials said that the poachers had killed the elephant and removed its tusks. The seven poachers were arrested following a raid by a joint team of Bisoi police and Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) at three places.
The exact reason behind the death of the leopard cat has not been ascertained yet. Meanwhile, the forest department officials have started an investigation into the incident.
Last month, the Orissa High Court observed that 2022 was perhaps the worst year for elephants in Odisha.
Manoj Nair, Chief Conservator Forests (CCF) and the Field Officer of the Similipal Tiger Reserve assured the court that a chargesheet will be filed in the death of Turam Purti at an early date and the case will be taken to its logical conclusion.
In her complaint, she accused three forest officials of assaulting her husband and forcibly making him consume the poison.
He was the only eyewitness in the heinous crime and was being threatened by the three suspended officials who have now been arrested after Orissa High Court came down heavily on the forest department and termed 2022 as the worst year for elephants in Odisha.
The carcass of the male elephant was recovered in Similipal South Wildlife Division on December 7.
Environmentalists slammed the forest officials for the widespread poaching activities in Similipal.
They can book tickets online on a first come and first serve basis by logging into www.similipal.com and odishatourism.gov.in.
Similipal National Park reopens for tourists from today.The National Park in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district was closed for visitors for over four months due to monsoon.
In a good news for nature lovers and tourists, the Similipal National Park, which was closed for the last few months, will reopen for tourists from November 1.
Tourists can book tickets online on a first come and first serve basis by logging into www.similipal.com and odishatourism.gov.in.
In the 15-second clip shared on Twitter, we can see the tiger leaving scratch marks on a tree. Indian Forest Service Officer Susanta Nanda shared the 15-second clip on his Twitter handle on the occasion of International Tigers Day.
The operation of the jungle safari vehicles will also remain closed from today. The date of reopening of the Tiger Reserve will be notified later.