6 people arrested for illegal activities in Bhitarkanika

Stepping up vigil on human interference in Bhitarkanika national park here, forest personnel have arrested six people for illegally collecting fuel-wood and crabs in the crocodile habitation corridors.
While five of them were arrested near Kalabhanjadia creek on the charge of felling mangrove species and collecting fuel wood, a crab catcher was arrested near Khola river ghat, an official said, adding that the arrests were made on Saturday last.
While two motorised crafts for smuggling the fuel wood were seized by the forest patrolling team in the first incident, 25 kg mud crabs were seized from the possession of the arrested in the second incident, Forest Range Officer Akshyaya Kumar Nayak said.

With the latest interception, 36 people have been taken into custody in the past 45 days on the charge of unlawfully gaining access into water-bodies and forest areas for fishing activities and fuel-wood collection.
Prohibition on human interference has been enforced round the year in the water bodies within the national park, said officials.
The offenders, including the crab catcher, were booked under the provisions of section-29 and 31, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

The crabs were later on released in the wild, Nayak said.
Crabs are the favoured food for crocodiles in the park area which is home to more than 1,600 salt water crocs.

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"Catching of crab is illegal. So stocking, trading or shipping out of crabs of any volume will be booked under Wildlife Protection Act 1972 as well as confiscation of the crabs. It has become imperative to protect mud crabs to keep intact the crocs' food chain, forests within the park and sanctuary areas", Nayak observed.
"Fishing or other form of human activities like fuel wood collection in the wetland sites of the sanctuary and national park is a cognisable offence. Forest department has stepped up vigil on act of trespass into prohibited areas to ensure safety of flora, fauna and the fragile eco-system of Bhitarkanika", said Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division, Bimal Prasanna Acharya.

The department is sensitising people living along the close periphery sanctuary asking them to reduce dependence on forest and its adjoining water-bodies for livelihood stakes.
Besides fishing, collection of fuel-wood, honey, grass and leaves from the protected forest for livelihood needs is unlawful. That is why the department has launched initiatives and programmes to provide alternate livelihood stakes to sanctuary-side villagers, he said.