Front Line Staff responded the Roaring of Tiger In the light of the Red Alert declared by State Govt. regarding the wandering gangs of poachers involved in poaching of Tiger targeting Tiger Reserves in Maharashtra, a memorable incidence took place where two young forest guards out of them one was lady guard, shown their outstanding courage to catch the poachers in the deep forest of Chaurakund in Melghat Tiger Reserve. During their daily patrolling on 22/05/2012, they encountered 6-7 persons with Bharmar guns & spears sitting besides the bank of Khapra river. It was evening of that day, both the field staff Mr. Shelke and Miss Leela Chatur rushed to the persons along with one villager with them. The poachers ran away except one who took his spear aiming to Mr. Shelke and made assault on him. Miss Leela was witnessing the incidence. She started within a moment and diverted the spear with the help of service Lathi with her. Mr. Shelke then by taking a chance rushed to the person, tried to catch him. They encountered each other. The villager and Miss Leela also helped him. In this way they succeeded the person to take into their possession.
They communicated their senior
officers and all rushed to the place of crime scene. Field Director Mr. K. P. Sing also rushed to the spot, met both of the staff and congratulated them for the outstanding courage they shown. The two forest guards along with a villager was awarded with a cash price Rs. 5000/- each and Rs. 2500/- respectively and certificate in a local function at Semadoh in presence of many senior officers and staff. The incidence was communicated to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Maharashtra State, Nagpur. They also congratulated the concerned Mr.Shelke and Miss Leela.
In the mean time, Mr. Bittu Sahgal, Editor, Sanctuary Asia, a well known wildlifer knew about this incidence. He was very much impressed hearing that frontline staff members have shown a outstanding performance to drive away the pouchers. He said that such type of courageous staff should be encouraged. He requested the Principal Secretary (Forests) to send these two persons to Ranthmbore to receive award in function organized by Sanctuary Asia, WCT,NDTV India and Hindustan Times under the ‘SAVE OUR TIGER’ campaign. They sent air tickets to go to Ranthambore on 15 of July 2012. Both persons Leela and Shelke was awarded by a cash award of Rs. 25,000/- each, with a certificate for their outstanding courage they shown in the forest against the poacherswith the hands of Mrs. Amitabh Bacchan a Brand Ambassador of the campaign of ‘SAVE OUR TIGER’ run by the above four organizations. The programme was viewed all over India on NDTV India on 15th July 2012.
