Similipal Tiger Reserve ranked 2nd in NTCA safety index

Baripada: Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha has been placed in second  position in safety index of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

The NTCA of Government of India has issued this safety index using state-of-the-art technology for the conservation of wildlife, tiger conservation projects, and rare biodiversity. While Dudhwa National Park of Madhya Pradesh topped the NTCA safety index, Satkosia wildlife sanctuary found 11th place in the list.

The NTCA had monitored the patrolling system at 34 tiger sanctuaries in India through the M-STrIPES app. Based on findings, the Similipal Tiger Reserve project occupied the second spot in terms of forest safety in the country, informed Baripada Regional Chief Conservator of Forest (RCCF) M Yogajayananda.

The M-STrIPES app measures how many kilometers the sanctuary is patrolled within a specified time frame. According to NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), 50,000 km patrolling was carried out inside Similipal sanctuary during the same period.

Yogajayananda said that the role of 400 protection assistants (PAs) and about 200 forest guards working for the safety of Similipal was important. Despite inclement weather and harsh conditions, they patrol day and night in every beat of Similipal.

For forest protection, Similipal has been divided into various grids. A team comprising of two or three PAs and a forest guard has been formed for safety of the wildlife sanctuary. Through this M-STrIPES app, the patrol system is monitored every month and the report is sent to the NTCA. Based on data from various tiger reserve projects across the country, the NTCA carries out evaluation process. The present index hints that Similipal will be the country’s No.1 sanctuary in the coming days in terms of forest protection, the official stated.