VSATs, All-Terrain Vehicles to keep poachers, forest fire at bay in Odisha’s Similipal

Bhubaneswar: The Forest department in Odisha will introduce Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) technology to ensure satellite connectivity for its personnel at Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj district.

This was revealed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Susanta Nanda today.

The field personnel at Similipal can transfer voice messages, data and videos through VSATs. Quick transfer of messages and data by field personnel can check poaching and other illegal activities at STR, sources said.

The Forest department will introduce VSAT technology in Similipal and Satkosia Tiger Reserve in the state in the first phase, sources added.

The department will install as many as 23 VSAT stations at Similipal and six at Satkosia. The stations will be set up at vantage points at the two tiger reserves.

“The field personnel at Similipal and Satkosia can transfer messages and data among themselves and to places outside the tiger reserves through VSATs. Faster movement of information can check poaching and other illegal activities at the two tiger reserves,” said an official.

At present, the forest staffers at the two tiger reserves are using wireless walkie-talkies for communication, he added.

Earlier, there were reports that the authorities at Similipal have decided to procure at least 10 All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) to ensure easy access for the field personnel to the inhospitable areas at the tiger reserve.

The ATVs will be useful in carrying forest staffers to fire points so that they can douse the flames using fire blowers and other equipment. Besides, the ATVs can also be used for anti-poaching activities at the STR.

Notably, the Forest department had earlier procured sophisticated firearms for its personnel at Similipal as part of an initiative to discourage poaching at the tiger reserve.

[This story is a part of ‘Punascha Pruthibi – One Earth. Unite for It’, an awareness campaign by Sambad Digital.]