Risk map to prevent poaching at Satkosia

BHUBANESWAR: With inter-state tiger translocation taking a beating with series of incidents pertaining to the two tigers brought in the first phase from Madhya Pradesh to Satkosia Tiger Reserve, the scientists of Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and state wildlife wing have decided to prepare a risk map that will contain the route and information of forest patches prone to poaching.
This is expected to help the forest personnel at the beat level know the point of vulnerability and carry out monitoring and patrolling exercises accordingly.Both the tigers- MB2 and Sundari- were released in Satkosia division of Satkosia Tiger Reserve. After the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) report confirmed planting of snare by poachers that killed MB2, the authorities will sketch a map for micro management. The state government is yet to stall the translocation project. If it continues, four more tigers are still to be brought from MP as per the understanding between the two states.
“The risk map will have information on concentration of prey population, previous reported cases of poaching, and ranges and villages which have in the past recorded presence of poachers. It will also indicate the areas of access by forest personnel in case of crisis situations. This map will be prepared in detailed consultation with the forest department’s field officers,” said WII scientist K Ramesh.
Satkosia division of the reserve is spread over 530 sq km area. The wildlife wing has also decided to conduct stakeholder workshops to engage villagers in the process of tiger introduction. “The stakeholder workshop is basically meant for confidence building among the conservationists, NGOs, local villagers, representatives of rural development and Panchayati Raj and village leaders. We will sensitise the villagers on the fact that tigers are not their enemies. Many doubts of the villagers will also be addressed,” a forest officer said.