Over 30 KG Ivory Seized, 10 Arrested in Similipal Sanctuary

Baripada: A multi-agency squad of the Wildlife Wing of the Forest Department busted a gang of poachers and smugglers that hunted elephants in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district. Ten members of the gang were arrested during the past one week. Ivory, weighing over 30 kg, was seized from the possession of the arrested persons.

This multi-agency squad comprised of personnel of the Similipal Tiger Protection Force (STPF), Joint Task Force (JTF) and multiple wildlife divisions and the wildlife divisions of Rairangpur and Puri.

The arrest of four persons with 18 kg of ivory at Jashipur led to the unearthing of this elephant tusk racket. Interrogation of these four led to the revelation of a middleman operating from Puri. He was arrested by the JTF and Puri Wildlife Division.

The information spilled by the arrested middleman led to the seizure of 12.9 kg of ivory at Karanjia and the arrest of five poachers from the bordering areas of Similipal Tiger Reserve.

Initial investigation proved that the tusks collected from elephants poached in the Similipal in the last one year.

The ten arrested were identified as Ghasiram Jerai (45), Anand Kerai (55), Shibsankar Banara (55), Chau Alda (35), Dabara Badra (45), Berga Badra (21), Papulu Badra (22), Sanatan Badra (24), Markand Ho (23) and Narendra Banara (53). Three of them belong to the Khejuri village of Similipal, one is from Bisoi and six are from Jashipur area.

They were using organic poison-laced arrows to hunt wild animals in the sanctuary.