To counter poaching in Asia’s biggest open wildlife sanctuary, the Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over a cluster of 13 villages and 13,546 acres, is proving a tough task for the Forest and Wildlife Department.
According to the recently conducted census, 4,728 black bucks and 6,011 blue bulls inhabit in this sanctuary, which is being guarded by just two wildlife guards and one veterinary compounder and that too unarmed.
Though the department has hired some locals as daily wagers to curb the menace of poaching, this illegal practice still goes on. The staff deployed here for patrolling round the clock does not even have binoculars or any government vehicle, which has turned them to mute spectators.
The equipment provided to them a long time ago was also not in a working condition and were found dumped at their office in Abohar. The wireless communication in the wildlife office was also non-existent and officials were totally dependent on cell phones.A visit to the sanctuary revealed that the department was having just two check posts that too situated along the roadsides.
“The area is too vast and it is not even fenced, so we are completely unable to monitor the day to day activities taking place inside the sanctuary. Sometimes we receive information after a gap of 24 hours. The shortage of staff and funds is the major problem, affecting our work,” an official of the Forest and Wildlife Department said.
