Chief Wildlife Warden SK Popli and Prakash Chand Gogineni, the Field Director of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), visited the home of Bimal Kumar Jena – a forest guard who was killed by poachers in the Similipal North Division on Monday – to convey their condolences. During their visit, Popli expressed his sadness over the loss of Jena, noting his dedicated service towards the Forest Department.
Popli reported that the Department is working towards increasing personnel and equipping them with better firearms to prevent further poaching incidents from occurring. He also clarified a rumour of poachers originating from states outside of West Bengal, confirming that the five poachers Id’ed by the district police are Mayurbhanj natives. He additionally mentioned that when patrolling, forest staff are not necessary to be armed, as a platoon of armed police reserve has been filled to support protection in STR, in addition to Country-made weapons seized from the poachers.
Popli mentioned the Forest Department’s assurance to fulfill the compensation asked by Jena’s father, Birendranath – which included 1 crore rupees compensation and support for Jena’s six-year-old grandchild’s education and pension. Furthermore, Jena’s wife, Lipina Swain who is also a forest guard has been transferred from Balidiha beat under Pithabata North wildlife range, to an office in Baripada.
The Similipal Tiger Reserve, located in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1979. It is one of the most famous wildlife sites in the country encompassing 11 Conservation Reserves, 9 Community Reserves, and one wildlife sanctuary. The main attraction of the national park is the Bengal Tiger, which is believed to be one of the most powerful predators in the world. STR is also home to many endangered species including elephants, gaurs, crocodiles, and pangolins. The park also serves as a sanctuary to more than 300 species of birds and several varieties of snakes. It provides visitors with unique experiences like viewing of rare species, bird watching, trekking, and many other eco-tourism activities. The Reserve is managed by the Odisha Forest Department, which works hard to protect the flora and fauna of the area through various conservation initiatives.
SK Popli is currently the Chief Wildlife Warden for Odisha and has been responsible for implementing several conservation initiatives across the state. He focusses on monitoring poaching incidents and making sure the wildlife sanctuaries are in proper protection. Besides regularly patrolling the reserves, he also monitors animal movement and keeps an eye out for any illegal activity. Popli also organizes anti-poaching operations and makes sure that offenders are brought to justice. He has done a remarkable job in overseeing the Tiger Reserve and has been instrumental in carrying out successful conservation practices.
