Adilabad forest officials focus on developing informant network to check poaching

ADILABAD: Forest department is focussing on developing an informants’ network to track poaching activities, like police have done for carrying out their anti-Naxalite operations.

The development comes after state government has taken a serious view of poachers targeting tigers, leopards, antelopes and other endangered species. It is learnt that a secret fund of Rs 4 crore has been set aside for the purpose. It is felt prevention is better than responding to deaths of wildlife and taking action against poachers responsible for the incidents.

Adilabad circle forest conservator G. Ramalingam said from now onwards, they will focus on developing a network of informants in villages to get information about illegal poaching. They will also intensify monitoring movements of poachers and suspicious persons as well as tracking movement of tigers.

Name of any person passing on information about poaching will be kept confidential. Suitable rewards will be given to them.

Incidentally, four forest officials – two beat and two section officers – have been suspended on charges of negligence in connection with the recent death of a tiger at Valigonda in Indravelli mandal and seizure of its skin.

Sources say there is lack of coordination among beat officers as far as tracking of tigers is concerned, which is what led to Valigonda incident. It is responsibility of beat officers to share information among themselves about movement of tigers within their territory.

Officer of a forest beat must inform about presence of a tiger to beat officer of adjacent areas to ensure safety and security of the tiger.
This would ensure information about the well-being of tigers as they move from one territory to another.