Vigilance trouble during monsoon a cause of concern for forest officials in Rajasthan

The ongoing monsoon season is a cause of concern for the forest officials in the state. With the increase in the vegetative cover and inaccessibility in parts of forests playing a major role in hampering the routine vigilance, the time is historically exploited by poachers to kill animals.

With ST5 going missing and ST11 trapped in a snare by poachers- both at Sariska - the officials are worried that poachers might have become active as monsoons hinder routine checking. Moreover, since tiger parts were recovered from a dealer by Jaipur police, the department is worried over the issue.

When tigers at Sariska were wiped out by poachers in Sariska by 2005, the resultant fact-finding activities brought to light that the poachers had actively laid snares and shot animals with increased frequency during monsoons. “The advantage that poachers have during these months is that first the vegetation increases and visibility becomes low. In such situation, the poacher can lay a snare or trap while themselves holding in some part of the forest and not be in the sight. Moreover, even if they shoot an animal, the sound of the gunshot might not get heard in the sound of rain and thunder.

Moreover, during monsoons, the action of water removes any mark that a poacher might leave of its presence. Like the ground where he walked or where he set up would get destroyed by rain and overgrown vegetation,” an official said requesting anonymity.

If that wasn’t enough, the forest department faces another problem. “During monsoons, the connectivity to certain areas in the forest area gets cut off as raging water damages the roads. Moreover, the strong winds result in the falling of several trees also and thus, it becomes impossible sometimes to conduct routine patrolling in remote areas. These are the areas that the poachers’ target,” officials said. With the recent two incidents from Sariska of tigress ST5 going missing and Tiger ST11 killed in a snare, the threat perception has increased.

Worried dept

With ST5 going missing and ST11 trapped in a snare by poachers- both at Sariska - the officials are worried that poachers might have become active as monsoons hinder routine checking. Since tiger parts were recovered from a dealer by Jaipur police, department is worried.

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