Bhubaneswar: Amid plans to bring 14 Royal Bengal Tigers (RBTs) to Satkosia Tiger Reserve, the Odisha government on Thursday launched 12 state-of-the-art special patrolling vans for the sanctuary as part of measures to protect endangered species and their habitats.
Apart from Satkosia, the modern and customised vans were also launched for Kapilash Wildlife Sanctuary, Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary and Chandaka near Bhubaneswar by Forest & Environment Department (ACS) Satyabrata Sahu and PCCF (Wildlife) Susanta Nanda.
Equipped with all modern facilities, the vans have GPS navigation and movable search lights for 360-degree view at night and are filled with winches which would be helpful in rescue operations, especially during the monsoons. The vehicles are painted in a way to evade easy detection by poachers and have been modified to suit the steep hilly roads as well as muddy paths.
Designed to accommodate maximum staff for protection, the vans are being deployed in the sensitive areas for use by the tiger protection force, joint task force, and other frontline staff for protection duty, PCCF Susanta Nanda said.
The patrolling vans will play a significant role in the protection, safety, and security in these reserves, he said.
Besides ensuring the safety of tigers, the patrolling vans will go a long way in the protection of the flora, fauna, and biodiversity of the wildlife sanctuaries. This will empower forest department officials in better protection of wildlife, he said, adding that the vehicles are also equipped for animal rescue.
Regarding the tiger relocation project in Satkosia, the PCCF said that there were 13-15 tigers in Satkosia in 2010 when the relocation project was announced. Now, a Tiger Recovery Plan is proposed to be undertaken under which 12 to 14 tigers will be brought to Satkosia in next five years.
Stating that the required approval has been obtained from the NTCA for the purpose, Nanda said the proposed project is likely to take some time as the local villagers need to be rehabilitated. If the local villagers come forward voluntarily and help in the tiger relocation project, it will be easier for the authorities to implement the plan, he said.
