11 Convicted for Elephant Poaching in Similipal, Get 4-Year Jail Term

Baripada: In a major development for wildlife conservation in Odisha, the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Baripada, has convicted 11 individuals for poaching a male Asiatic elephant inside the core area of the Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve.

The court sentenced each of the convicts to four years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The convicted persons have been identified as Ghasiram Jerai, Anand Kerai, Shibsankar Banara, Narendra Banara, Chaku Alda, Dabara Badra, Berga Badra, Santan Badra, Papulu Badra, Markand Ho, and Tuku Badra.

The incident dates back to November 19, 2023, when a forest guard, Satyanarayan Patra, discovered the carcass of a male elephant during a routine patrol in the Kabatghai-I Beat area. The body was found in the Chulipanidanda forest under the core zone of Similipal Tiger Reserve. The elephant’s skull had been brutally chopped, and both tusks along with the lower jaw were missing.

A post-mortem examination later confirmed that the elephant had been killed by poachers, as an iron arrowhead was found embedded in its left waist. The carcass measured approximately 9 feet 6 inches in length and 7 feet 4 inches in height. Forest officials seized the remains and crucial evidence, including the arrowhead, from the spot.

During the investigation, authorities arrested the accused and recovered weapons used in the crime. Confessional statements were recorded, and several incriminating materials were seized. The probe revealed that a large group had illegally entered the protected core area, killed the Schedule-I animal, and removed its tusks for illegal trade.

While 11 accused were apprehended and faced trial, 12 others remain absconding. The case against the absconders was split on August 7, 2024. A charge sheet was filed in April 2024 under multiple sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, including provisions related to hunting, illegal trade, and possession of wildlife parts, all punishable under Section 51 of the Act.

Forest officials termed the conviction a significant success, highlighting the team’s dedication in detection, arrest, documentation, and prosecution of the case. The judgment is expected to strengthen anti-poaching efforts and has reportedly led to the dismantling of at least three traditional elephant poaching gangs operating in the Similipal region.