Strong protection measures curb poaching

MYSURU: Preventive measures such as establishment of anti-poaching camps and foot patrolling inside the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries have reduced the threat of poaching in the State to a significant extent.

While major tiger reserves have anti-poaching camps, they are also assisted by the Special Task Force for Tigers, which are a mobile unit and stationed at Bandipur and Nagarahole.

K.S. Sudheer of Voice for Wildlife, who is also an advocate focusing on wildlife crimes, told

The Hindu that poaching prevention measures with focus on anti-snare combing operation — which involves identification of snare prone areas in national parks and regular combing of animal tracks to identify, disarm and remove snares — had helped curb poaching.

“More than 8 to 9 instances in the last few years have ensured that every non-local group camping or moving in the vicinity of the forest are cornered, quarantined and handled appropriately,” said Mr. Sudheer.

The State’s increase in compensation for crop loss and injuries arising out of animal attacks has also reduced retaliatory killing of animals, he said.