Palamu Tiger Reserve recovers snares, arrows in anti-poaching patrol ahead of Dussehra
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Daltonganj, October 18: A patrol team of the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) recovered snares and arrows from the…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, October 18: A patrol team of the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) recovered snares and arrows from the Damchua forests along the Jharkhand-Chhattisgarh border late Saturday, October 17, amid stepped-up surveillance to prevent wildlife poaching during the festive season.
According to sources, the team recovered weather-beaten snares measuring around 200 feet in length, along with five arrows. The devices were allegedly intended to trap wild boars and hares.
The recovery site falls under the South Division of the Palamu Tiger Reserve.
Traps Suspected to Be Part of Festive Poaching Preparations
Forester in-charge of Mahuadnr, Gurudayal Singh, said the snares and arrows were believed to have been placed by local residents to hunt wild boars and hares ahead of Dussehra.
“The snares and arrows appear to have been placed by local residents to trap wild boars and hares as part of preparations for a festive feast,” Singh said, adding that the devices were old, weather-beaten and rusted.
Such traps are generally placed along routes frequently used by wild animals, particularly wild boars and hares, making them difficult to detect during routine movement through the forest.
PTR Steps Up Patrolling During Festive Season
Kumar Ashish, Deputy Director of the South Division of PTR, said patrolling had been intensified during the festive season to prevent people from hunting wildlife for meat.
“One patrol team, comprising 15 personnel, including three forest guards and 12 forest trackers, is operating in each of the four ranges—Garu West, Garu East, Baresanr and Mahuadnr,” Ashish said.
He explained that wildlife poaching methods vary according to the season. During summer, poachers tend to target areas near water bodies where animals gather to drink. In winter, snares and arrows may be used across a wider area, irrespective of the location of water sources.
Poachers Avoid Firearms to Escape Detection
Ashish said suspected poachers often avoid firearms because gunshots can alert forest patrol teams and frighten wildlife, causing animals to flee.
The use of snares and arrows, by contrast, allows poachers to hunt more quietly and reduces the likelihood of detection through the sound of gunfire, he said.
Training of Forest Guards Has Not Halted Patrols
Asked whether the festive season and the absence of some forest guards had affected surveillance, Ashish said the South Division had 62 forest guards, of whom 31 had gone to Ranchi and Chaibasa for training.
He said patrolling was organised on an hourly basis, with adequate rest periods for personnel.
According to sources, patrol teams also vary their timings to maintain an element of surprise and reduce the chances of suspected poachers anticipating their movements.
Case Registered Under Wildlife Law
Sources said the Palamu Tiger Reserve had registered a case against unidentified persons under the relevant provisions of wildlife law in connection with the recovery.
The operation highlights the challenges faced by forest authorities in preventing seasonal and festive hunting, particularly in forest areas bordering other states.
