A CBI investigation is required to uncover the role of field forest officers as to whether they connived with the poachers. In at least four cases, there was an effort to destroy evidence by burning or burying the bones, WSO secretary Biswajit Mohanty said. The elephant census was being carried out in April when the news first came about the mass poaching of elephants, he said.
An attempt by independent persons to enter the Park to verify the reports was frustrated by the Range Officer of Pithabata Range. He refused entry to the Honorary Wildlife Warden of Mayurbhanj district when she wanted to visit the core area on April 30, 2010 though she had an official order issued by a senior officer, WSO secretary alleged. He further alleged that the local forest staff had reported the death of one elephant only in April concealing the deaths of others. Two poaching cases were discovered by the department after information about their locations was provided by the Honorary Wildlife Warden. A senior forest official personally visited the Park and found the two carcasses, Mr. Mohanty revealed.
After the Honorary Wildlife Warden was finally allowed entry in May, she located four other carcasses out of which two were burnt down in an apparent bid to destroy evidence of poaching, he narrated, adding that two remains were buried in order to avoid detection. Read the full report here.
Source: The Hindu
