Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Wildlife has ordered probe into the mysterious disappearance of 25 blackbucks at the blackbuck acclimatisation centre in Barnawapara Sanctuary.

 

 

Reliable sources told ‘The Hitavada’ that the department had imported 78 blackbucks nearly one-year ago. Sanctuary authorities have post-mortem report of 11 blackbucks. Around 8 fawns were also born. So, there should have been 75 blackbucks at present. However, the then PCCF Wildlife Shirish Chandra Agrawal had counted close to 50 blackbucks during his last visit to the centre and ordered

 

As the water dried up in the peak of summer and greenery become scarce in Barnawapara Sanctuary, two elephants of the sanctuary have strayed out of the protected forests near the populated areas of the Magarlod Block in Dhamtari. On Sunday, the elephants were spotted wandering for food and water near Fingeshwar area of the Rajim. Considering the gravity of the situation, forest officials have alerted the local people not to approach near the elephants in fields. Meanwhile, the elephants have caused damage to the crops. Forest Department has a system to assess the extent and value of damage to the crops and aptly compensate the farmers.

 

 

Police and Forest Department teams had to strive hard to goad the elephants away from the farmlands. According to the information, the herd has left farmers in profound worry as their standing crops have almost ripened for harvesting. But, they are now finding it extremely dangerous to go their fields.