Rare Bison Sighted In Odisha’s Keonjhar Forest

Keonjhar: A bison of rare species was spotted at Atei reserve forest in Odisha’s Keonjhar district. The fleeting images of the endangered animal were captured in trap cameras installed at various strategic locations in the forest, sources said on Sunday.

The sighting of the bison has enthused forest officials and wildlife activists since the mammal has never been spotted earlier in the reserve forest and in the neighbourhood.

Talking to mediapersons, Keonjhar DFO Dhanraj HD confirmed sighting of the rare bison and hinted at more protective measures for the wildlife inside the reserve forest.

Images of 21 species of wildlife were also captured in the trap camera inside the reserve forest, where a Royal Bengal Tiger(RBT) was sighted earlier. Officials are in the process of examining CCTVs to elicit details on its movement in the area, sources said.

On February 4, carcass of a wild boar was also recovered in the forest and pug marks of a big cat were detected around it, they added.