Dikhyaa Mohanty 
To stop poaching and other unlawful encroachments, the state government set up 214 Anti-Poaching Camps (APCs) and makeshift platforms in the Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary. In the state assembly on Tuesday, Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, the minister of forests, environment, and climate change, presented this information. 135 anti-poaching camps and temporary platforms have been established in the Similipal South Wildlife Reserve and 79 more in the Similipal North Wildlife Reserve as part of the anti-poaching activities.
He said that the Odisha government has authorized a new 10-year Tiger Conservation Plan for the Similipal Tiger Reserve, which would run from 2023–2024 to 2032–2033 in order to improve animal conservation activities. The Odisha government has put in place a number of steps to protect Similipal’s distinctive flora and wildlife because it recognizes its ecological value. Similipal has been getting ongoing financing to upgrade its infrastructure since 1973 as a participant in the Centrally Sponsored Scheme-Project Tiger (CSS-PT).
Advanced surveillance systems, such as AI-powered cameras, infrared cameras, and trap cameras, have been built to prevent poaching and save animals. In addition to retired army officers, security assistants, and permanent forest authorities, the Similipal Special Tiger Protection Force (SSTPF) has been deployed. Wireless stations have been installed for real-time data transmission, and special vehicles have been made available for the prompt reporting of poaching activities. Monitoring of the illicit wildlife trade will be improved with the establishment of S-WIN (Similipal Wildlife Intelligence Network).
Modern weaponry including automatic pistols, X-caliber rifles, and INSAS rifles have been adopted to further improve security. A dedicated firefighting team has been established to manage crises, and fire lines are being built to avoid forest fires in the lead-up to summer. M-Stripes and Phase-IV tracking devices have also been put in place by the government to keep an eye on the movements of tigers and other animals. To engage local populations in conservation efforts, extensive public awareness initiatives are being carried out. To guarantee that animals have access to enough food and water, efforts are being made to improve wildlife habitats through the management of grasslands, salt licks, and water reservoirs. To help distressed wildlife, a fast reaction team has been established.
All of Similipal’s villages—aside from Bakua village—have been moved in a major move to give animals greater room. A tiger migration program is also in place to bring in tigers from other states, which will increase genetic diversity and the number of tigers in Similipal. To bolster protection operations, a Joint Task Force (JTF) consisting of regular police and forest workers has been formed. Authorities have caught 255 poachers, recovered 57 guns, and filed 103 wildlife crime charges in the last three years. With these all-encompassing initiatives, Odisha underlines its dedication to protecting the Similipal Tiger Reserve’s natural integrity and guaranteeing the long-term survival of its varied fauna.
