Wild Animals Flee As Forest Fire Spreads In Odisha’s Similipal National Park

Baripada: With forest fire reported in Similipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district for second time in the last three months, the officials of Forest, Fire and Wildlife departments find it tough to contain the blaze which has led the wild animals to escape to human habitation.

According to sources, the fire was reported in the national park by the locals in the last week of March. By the time the Forest officials could take any containment measures, it had spread to Talabandha and Chahal ranges coming under the national park area on March 28.

Even as 200 Fire personnel were deployed and the fire was contained in Gudugudia range, it spread to Thakurmunda forest range.

With the fire spreading fast due to dry leaves on the forest floor supported by wind, the wild animals have been fleeing their habitation and entered nearby villages, the sources said. In order to escape from fire, some deer entered Nihangandi village under Thakurmunda forest range. Later, they returned to other parts of the forest.

A few days back, a bear had intruded into Purunapani village under Karanjia forest division. Though the Forest officials had come to rescue it, the bear had died apparently due to injuries.

The Forest officials suspected that poachers might have started the forest fire to catch wild animals. In fact, the officials of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) arrested five persons while they were allegedly trying to start a fire in Nawana Wildlife Range on Tuesday.

It may be noted that as many as 36 large fires were reported at four places under Gurugudia and Talabandha ranges in Similipal in first week of February. It was brought under control with the efforts of Forest and Fire personnel in the ranges.