Campaign to deny poachers lodging

A private resort at Lataguri on the fringes of Gorumara National Park

BIRESWAR BANERJEE, TT, Siliguri: The forest department will carry out an awareness drive in villages on the fringes of reserves, resorts and hotels located across the Dooars to prevent poachers from getting accommodation.

The decision follows findings by the department during past year that the poachers had taken refuge in adjoining villages before sneaking into the forests to kill animals and take away trophies.

Recently, villagers have stopped providing them shelters, particularly after the raids conducted by foresters and police. But now, some are checking into hotel and resorts located close to reservs that are home to wildlife habitats.

"Poaching cases have been reported in the forests of north Bengal. We are taking necessary precautions and have decided to launch the campaign so that these criminals, who kill animals and smuggle the body parts, are not provided any shelter in adjoining villages. In fact, we would request the villagers to keep their eyes open and inform us in case they find any unknown and suspicious person in their areas," said forest minister Binoy Krishna Burman.

A similar campaign will be carried out in resorts and hotels. "There is information that some poachers had checked into resorts. We want the resort owners and employees to monitor movements of each guest and pass on information to us in case they find anything unusual," the minister said.

In May this year, a major incident of poaching had shaken the foresters when they came across carcasses of two rhinos from Garati area under the Gorumara National Park.

Later, five persons, including a resident of Assam, were arrested for alleged involvement in the poaching and smuggling the rhinos' horns.

Recently, villagers of Khuttimari in Dhupguri block informed foresters about the headless carcass of an elephant. The needle of suspicion pointed to poachers.

"We have instructed members of all forest protection committee members to keep close watch on their areas," said a forester.,