Villagers demand relocation relief

Baripada/Angul: Local people on Tuesday stalled the shifting of two trained elephants from the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) to Satkosia in Angul.

On the other hand, members of 27 families, who have been left out from the compensation package for relocation from Raigoda village located in the core area of the Satkosia tiger reserve lodged their protest.

The local people obstructed the shifting of elephants, alleging that the animals were not trained to monitor tigers.

The elephants to be shifted to Satkosia are Mahendra and Rajkumar of 56 and 15 years old, respectively.

Wildlife activist Bhanumitra Acharya said: "Mahendra is too old, while Rajkuamar is too young to be engaged in monitoring tigers in Satkosia. Further they are not trained for such jobs. Moreover, who will do their job in their absence?"

"So far I know these elephants were brought from Karnataka. But it is best known to the authorities why they are shifting them instead of procuring more elephants from Karnataka," said Acharya.


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