Anti poaching operations in Uttarakhand

NAINITAL - Forest officials of Uttarakhand have started an anti- poaching operation to curb illegal hunting of animals.

As water sources in Uttarakhand forests dry up with the onset of summer, animals are forced to move beyond the forest boundaries thus becoming vulnerable to poaching.

Extra patrols have been arranged to detect barbed wires that are used to capture wild animals by poachers.

“We patrol every range of the forest to catch poachers. We also look in those places where there are some people living. We also look for barbed fencing which are laid for animals,” said L S Martolia, Range Officer, Tarai Central Forest Division.

According to the forest authorities, poaching increases in summer as animal skins dry up faster.

Forest officials say they are using the available infrastructure effectively.

“We look after those animals that come to the outer part of the forest for water, and get caught by the poachers. Our main aim is to find the barbed wire laid for animals. We even train our officers for doing a more efficient job. We will also use metal detectors and sniffer dogs to stop poaching,” said Dr Parag Madhuker, Divisional Forest Officer of the Tarai Central Forest Division. (ANI)