Maksam Tayeng
PASIGHAT, Mar 10: The caretakers of the D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary had a fierce encounter with hunters on intervening night of March 5-6 last.Wildlife staff of Jeepghat beat under Anchal Ghat Range of led by Dy. Range Officer, Orin Perme were involved in the incident which took place during ‘Unying Aaran’, which is a festival of hunting for the locals.
Informing about it, Perme, said that, a group of hunters were intercepted near Gul Katoni area in between Jeepghat and Sibiya Mukh range who fired at forest staff when effort were made to nab them. Few round of fires were exchanged from both sides before the hunters managed to flee in the deep jungle, said Perme.
Later in another case, hunters were found laying tree ambush. However, the team managed to chase away the hunters with a warning fire. Perme said that, hunting still goes unabated despite attempts to avert from his beat areas and called for concerted effort from other ranges of the DEWS as some of the vital locations are left unattended and porous.
In another case, some fishermen suspected to be helping hunters during this period of hunting festival were caught at Anchalghat range led by Forester Binmar Boje, but those were let off on being proved innocent. While at Namsing village side too, hunting attempts were averted and hunters were warned by officials of DEWS led by DFO Rini Riba.
It is worth mentioning here that, one of the major festivals of Adis, the ‘Unying Aaran’ is currently being celebrated across Adi belt with much traditional pomp and gaiety. During this festival hunter often intrudes into this protected sanctuary, however, in a recent Biodiversity conservation awareness meeting held at Mebo led by ABK Mebo Block and AdiSU members, hunting in D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary was declared banned though the practice continues.
While reacting to the reports of unabated hunting taking place in the sanctuary Adi Baane Kebang East Siang Unit has cautioned denizen living in the fringe villages of the DEWS to refrain from hunting into the sanctuary. Talut Siram, Secretary (Admin), ABK E/Siang said that, no one should be spared and guilty should be punished. He also appealed the DFO (Wildlife), Riba to act tough against such attempts from hunters.