Keonjhar: Various rare wild animals have been captured by the camera trap installed inside Atei reserve forest under Patana and Ghatagaon forest ranges in Keonjhar forest division and district. The camera traps have captured a few schedule-1 species which are on the verge of extinction like the Indian gaur, Indian grey wolf, four-horned antelope, rattle, common palm civet, small Indian civet, ruddy mongoose, grey mongoose, jackal, Indian fox, jungle cat, sloth bear as well as big cats in the jungle.
Apart from these, 21 species of wild animals like spotted deer, barking deer, porcupine, pangolin, Indian hare, wild pig, rhesus macaque were also seen though their numbers are yet to be verified, divisional forest officer (DFO) Dhanraj HD said. Sources said that Atei reserve forest spread over 1,600 sq km has turned into a safe haven for wildlife. Wild animals feel free to move in the jungle as it is densely surrounded by Similipal, Hadgarh, Satkosia, Revana wildlife sanctuaries, and other reserve forests.
However, National Highway 20 and other highways passing through this jungle prove to be deterrents to the free movement of animals. Round-the-clock movement of iron ore-laden trucks and passenger buses often pose risks for wild animals. Animal fatalities due to road mishaps while crossing the highway is very usual.
Environmentalist Harekrushna Mohanta said that there is a need for regular patrolling to keep the animals safe from poachers and other threats. However, it is not easy to monitor the whole jungle due to its enormity. The Forest department should carry out awareness programmes in the area and nab the poachers with the involvement of villagers living on the fringes of the jungle. Moreover, with the summer season drawing near, forest officials should see that wildfire do not spread in the jungle which will only endanger the lives of the wild animals. They should also make sure that the animals do not stray into human habitats facing food and water scarcity in the jungle during summer.
