Odisha: Forester, guard suspended, ranger gets show cause (India)

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Wed, Jan 13, 2021 12:03 AM

Odisha: Forester, guard suspended, ranger gets show cause (India)
The New Indian Express
January 11, 2021

See link
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2021/jan/11/odisha-forester-guard-suspended-ranger-gets-show-cause-2248457.html
for photo.

BARIPADA: Two days after carcass of a wild tusker with missing tusks was
found in Ramkunda forest under Kaptipada range here, the divisional forest
officer (DFO) of Baripada on Sunday said, a forester and guard were placed
under suspension and show cause notice slapped on Kaptipada ranger.

Those put on notice are forester Chintamani Mohapatra, forest guard Pramila
Sen and ranger Maheswar Singh.

Carcass of the wild tusker was spotted inside Ramkunda forest under Sarisua
beat of Kaptipada range on Friday. It bore no injury marks but its tusks
were found missing.

Two veterinary teams, one from Similipal Tiger Reserve and another from
Kaptipada block, had rushed to the spot and conducted autopsy in presence
of DFO Santosh Kumar Joshi and Regional Chief Conservator of Forest and
Field Director of Similipal M Yogajayanand.

The DFO said, “The forester and guard were suspended and show cause notice
has been furnished to the ranger for neglect of duty on Friday itself. Due
action will be taken.”

It appears the elephant was poisoned, a common tactic by poachers to remove
the tusks. Wildlife enthusiasts alleged that poor management by department
and negligence of forest personnel on duty are to blame for rampant
poaching activities.

On December 14 last year, two constables of Odisha police serving in
Sahadevkhunta police station of Balasore district were arrested for
poaching in the core area of Similipal Tiger Reserve. A country made gun
along with carcass of a barking deer had been seized from their possession.

Few days later on December 29, forest officials had seized 10 kg of deer
meat near Godipokhari-Sansole from a poacher. As per forest department
sources, in Kaptipada range under Baripada Wildlife Division, one elephant
has been killed in 2018, three in 2019 and one in 2020.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2021/jan/11/odisha-forester-guard-suspended-ranger-gets-show-cause-2248457.html

Odisha: Forester, guard suspended, ranger gets show cause (India) The New Indian Express January 11, 2021 See link <https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2021/jan/11/odisha-forester-guard-suspended-ranger-gets-show-cause-2248457.html> for photo. BARIPADA: Two days after carcass of a wild tusker with missing tusks was found in Ramkunda forest under Kaptipada range here, the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Baripada on Sunday said, a forester and guard were placed under suspension and show cause notice slapped on Kaptipada ranger. Those put on notice are forester Chintamani Mohapatra, forest guard Pramila Sen and ranger Maheswar Singh. Carcass of the wild tusker was spotted inside Ramkunda forest under Sarisua beat of Kaptipada range on Friday. It bore no injury marks but its tusks were found missing. Two veterinary teams, one from Similipal Tiger Reserve and another from Kaptipada block, had rushed to the spot and conducted autopsy in presence of DFO Santosh Kumar Joshi and Regional Chief Conservator of Forest and Field Director of Similipal M Yogajayanand. The DFO said, “The forester and guard were suspended and show cause notice has been furnished to the ranger for neglect of duty on Friday itself. Due action will be taken.” It appears the elephant was poisoned, a common tactic by poachers to remove the tusks. Wildlife enthusiasts alleged that poor management by department and negligence of forest personnel on duty are to blame for rampant poaching activities. On December 14 last year, two constables of Odisha police serving in Sahadevkhunta police station of Balasore district were arrested for poaching in the core area of Similipal Tiger Reserve. A country made gun along with carcass of a barking deer had been seized from their possession. Few days later on December 29, forest officials had seized 10 kg of deer meat near Godipokhari-Sansole from a poacher. As per forest department sources, in Kaptipada range under Baripada Wildlife Division, one elephant has been killed in 2018, three in 2019 and one in 2020. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2021/jan/11/odisha-forester-guard-suspended-ranger-gets-show-cause-2248457.html