Forest Dept keeps close vigil on Sendra festival

Sendra (Bishu Shikar), the annual hunting festival of tribals, was observed at Dalma wildlife sanctuary on Monday under strict vigil.

Although some tribals on their way back said that a wild boar was killed by a group in Rajdoha(Potka block), forest department officials denied the same without any concrete proof. However, four wired traps were recovered from three groups.

Principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) L.R Singh, who along with chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Anand Mohan Sharma; deputy conservator of forest (DCF), Dalma, Chandramouli Prasad Sinha and other officials were monitoring developments. This year,  the forest department had deputed 200 forest guards from various divisions to combat killing of any animal on Sendra.

Checkpoints along the NH 33, including Pardih and Fadlugora, also went a long way in preventing tribals from going to the sanctuary with firearms.

Police constables from East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan were also deployed for preventing tribals from entering the sanctuary.  Moreover, divisional railway managers of  Chakradharpur and Adra divisions had been asked to deploy magistrates to prevent tribals from boarding trains with weapons.

“As per our reports, no animal has been killed according to the reports. In fact very less groups have entered the sanctuary which means that their awareness level has increased,” said Singh.

Asked about the reported killing of a wild boar in Rajdoha inside the sprawling 192 sq km Dalma sanctuary, some 35 km from Jamshedpur, Singh said that in the first place, killing a wild board with bow and arrow is not easy and secondly they had no such report.

It may be mentioned that the forest department, a two weeks before the festival, had launched an awareness campaign among tribals, following which they had not only assured to protect the animals, but promised to convince others not to kill animals during the annual ritual.

Nevertheless, Dalma Buru Sendra Samity(DBSS) has said that inspite of the large police and forest officials presence the tribals have celebrated the festival in a traditional manner but in a limited way.

Tribals however lamented that most of the youngsters from their community take little interest in the festival. Awareness, the labour involved and the restrictions by the forest department have led to educating the youths.

Even with restrictions some groups managed to sneak into the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary but had to return empty handed.