Sendra (Bishu Shikar), the annual hunting festival of tribals, was reduced to a
symbolic affair with almost no animal casualty at Dalma wildlife sanctuary on
Monday.
Senior forest department officials heaved a sigh of relief even though
unconfirmed reports said some animals were killed at Chaliyama village inside
the sprawling 192 sq km sanctuary, some 35 km from Jamshedpur.
The tribals, who had sneaked inside the sanctuary last night itself, came across
as a tired lot with dropped shoulders. A group of 32 tribals from Seraikela was
seen melting into the core area without any success. “ We did not get
anything. Came across two elephants and a wild boar. But we could not hunt
the wild boar,†said a tribal.
Forest officials monitored the security and remained busy receiving inputs on
the progress of the festival. “No animal has been killed. Our efforts to spread
awareness among villagers about the futility of killing animals has done the
trick. We were successful in making Sendra symbolic,†said an official.
Patrolling inside the sanctuary as well as NH 33 was intense. “We came across
a group of tribals who had surrounded a rabbit and were all set to kill it. But
we shouted and diverted their attention and the animal slipped into the bush.
We also spoke to the group and asked them not to kill animals,†he informed,
adding they also seized some traps.
A group of some tribals had also lit fire at a few sections of the sanctuary. The
fire was aimed at driving away elephants so that they can kill animals.
The official thanked the members of Dalma eco development committee for
helping them in stopping animal casualty. “We also spoke to Dolma Buru
Sendra Samity chief priest Rakesh Hembrom and Dolma Buru Sendra Dishua
Samity general secretary Ishwar Chandra Soren with a request to help the
forest department in its efforts to prevent killing of animals.
The forest department had paid special attention to the vulnerable Patamda
side of the sanctuary. Two rangers and a 20-member team patrolled the area
and camped there since last night.
Checkpoints along NH 33, including Pardih and Fadlugora, also went a long way
in preventing tribals from going to the sanctuary with firearms.
