Poachers kill blackbuck in Odisha, 4 arrested

Four alleged poachers involved in killing of an endangered blackbuck were arrested by forest officials in Ganjam district of Odisha on Friday.

Speaking to The Hindu , Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ashis Kumar Behera said the carcass, one country-made gun and a motorcycle was seized from possession of arrested persons.

Caught by patrol

A patrol of forest officials had located the poachers while they were returning after killing the blackbuck near Hansatoli village in Kodala police station area.

The arrested persons included Ashok Swain and Anil Swain, two brothers from Shandhamula village, Ashok Kumar Behera and Banabasi Behera from Talagaon village.

As per the information received from them during initial investigation, they had entered the forest on Thursday night with an aim to kill blackbucks. They had killed one gun at around 3am. They were It may be noted that all the three forest divisions in Ganjam district are habitat of blackbucks in Odisha.

Protected by villagers

Villagers of Ganjam district because of their traditional religious belief consider blackbucks as incarnations of Lord Vishnu and harbingers of rain. So, blackbucks are allowed to live near villages and are protected.

Blackbuck census

As per blackbuck census of 2015 there were 1080 blackbucks in Berhampur forest division.

In south-Ghumusar forest division, there were 1208 blackbucks and presence of blackbucks was also noted in north-Ghumusar forest division.