8 camera traps stolen from Navegaon-Nagzira

TNN | Apr 16, 2020, 04:12 IST

Nagpur: Miscreants stole eight camera traps worth Rs1.60 lakh installed for Phase IV tiger estimation exercise being undertaken by Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) in Gondia and Bhandara districts.
Phase IV exercise is in progress in wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves and their buffer zones since February in the entire state. On April 4, NNTR had installed 602 camera traps at 301 locations including core and buffer zone.
On April 8, four were found missing from Jambli beat under Gondia territorial division near Tidka and Yerandi villages. Two more were stolen near Maramjob village from Compartment 544 and another two from Compartment 513 near Shenda village.
“More than the camera traps, it is the recorded data that is vital. If these data land in the hands of poachers it will spell doom for wildlife,” said NGOs.
NNTR has announced a reward of Rs5,000 for people helping the department to nab the culprits.