OUR CORRESPONDENT
Itanagar: As part of the proactive initiative for protection and conservation of endangered wildlife species in the only grassland sanctuary with riverine islands of Arunachal Pradesh through active surveillance, two poachers were held from D Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary recently.
Based on reliable sources, a team lead by the Borguli Range Forest Officer C K Chowpoo under the close supervision of the sanctuary’s DFO Kenpi Ete, swung into action after getting inputs that three persons had entered the sanctuary and hunted a Sambar deer, a Schedule I species under Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
The three accused namely Joni Perme, Mibom Perme and Doping Tayeng, all from Borguli village under Mebo subdivision of East Siang district, entered inside the sanctuary with a machine boat in guise of fishing and shot the Sambar deer using a single barrel gun, in an isolated island pocket under Borguli Wildlife Range.
Two poachers were arrested earlier, while the third who was absconding was arrested on Tuesday, an official release informed.
All the seized articles have been handed over to police and a FIR was registered at Mebo police station and the booked the accused under Wildlife (Protection) Act and Arms act, 1959. The DFO said that stringent action as per the provisions of Wildlife (Protection) Act would be taken against any person involved in hunting or abetment of hunting inside sanctuary.
She also expressed her dismay that despite continuous efforts by the authorities in gaining the confidence of the fringe villagers for their support in protecting the sanctuary, such hunting incidents by a few vested persons put the whole conservation efforts into vain.
While directing her field officers to intensify surveillance in and around the sanctuary to prevent further such incidents, she also appealed to the people to report any such hunting incidents to the authorities for prompt action and that the informers shall be appropriately rewarded.
D Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary is the only grassland dominated sanctuary in the state and due to its unique landscape of riverine islands and grassland it is home to many endangered wildlife species like, wild water buffalo, Gangetic dolphin, migratory birds and the critically endangered Bengal Florican.
It is surrounded by around 18 fringe villages which share a direct boundary with the sanctuary. Because of this, the sanctuary is extremely vulnerable to illegal activities, particularly hunting.
However in the recent past due to proactive protection and mass awareness by the sanctuary authorities along with the support from local MLAs, and people, the sanctuary and its wildlife have started flourishing. The number of tourists visiting the sanctuary is also increasing each year.
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