Wild Orissa for conservation of Similipal wildlife

The Wild Orissa, in association with the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) administration, organised a
series of programmes for conservation of wildlife in the STR recently focusing their activities in the
villages located in remote forest areas of the Thakurmunda Forest Range.

The stretch of forest including Similipal Reserved Forest spread over an area of 2,750 km was
declared as ‘Tiger Reserve’ with effect from December 4,1973 under ‘Project Tiger’ scheme of the
Union Government. It has been conferred with legal status as per provisions of Section 38V of
Wildlife (Conservation) Act, 1972 during 2007. The notification has clearly indicated with boundary
description of Critical Tiger Habitat (Core) extending over 1194.75 km 2 and buffer area of 1555.25
km². There are three inhabitated villages inside the Critical Tiger Habitat and 65 villages in the buffer
area.

The Wild Orissa being aware of problems which have a long tradition in these parts, some of which
like the annual mass hunting ritual and forest fires have posed a big challenge for the forest and
wildlife administration, has through its ‘Similipal Conservation Programme’ launched proactive
initiatives to control this menace, which has had taken a large toll of our wildlife in the past, said Wild
Orissa chief spokesperson Kulamani Deo.

The month of April is a period of concern for all stakeholders of Similipal forests and it is during this
period that the most challenging issues come to the fore. The Wild Orissa has complemented and
supplemented the efforts of Government agencies in tackling local issues.

A multipronged strategy has been worked out by the Wild Orissa for some of the problematic areas
in the buffer area which includes, engaging with frontline forest protection personnel, involving
institutional set-ups created by the STR administration like Sabuja Vahini, Tiger Protection Force
(TPF), Vana Surakshya Samitis (VSS), etc. for more relevant interface with the local community,
engaging with children and schools located in remote forest areas in STR, providing alternate
engagements for keeping local communities engaged during pinch poaching/hunting periods,
involving women groups including women SHGs in campaigns for anti-poaching drive and involving
Honorary Wildlife Wardens of the district.

In keeping with the above, it held interactive sessions with frontline forest personnel and members
from the Sabuja Vahini, TPF and VSS. Essay competition on the subject ‘Similipal and its
conservation’ was held for different school children of the remote villages.

Further to sensitise the local communities rallies were taken out by children in the villages. In order
to encourage fire control in forest areas, interactions with VSSs were conducted while interactive
sessions were held with the members of women SHGs during which support was enlisted from their
members to dissuade the men folk from engaging in poaching/hunting related activities.

A special cash award was given to a VSS which had successfully contained forest fire in its area.
Among others, Karanjia Divisional Forest Officer A Behera, Assistant Conservator of Forests A
Mohanty, Honorary Wildlife Wardens of Mayurbhanj Sanjukta Basa and Bhanumitra Acharya,
Similipal Conservation Programme head Shibaji Nayak and members of Wild Orissa were present
during the occasion.

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2014/state-editions/wild-orissa-for-conservation-of-similipal-
wildlife.html

report of 3rd may 2014