Researchers engaged in a survey and study project at Intanki National Park were in for a rude shock when they discovered that some of the camera traps they set up were found to be missing when they went to retrieve them.

 

According to official sources, 3 camera traps out of the 38 that were installed at Intanki National Park have gone missing or were stolen which has come as a blow to the ongoing survey under ‘Project Tiger’.

 

Generally, Nagaland does not receive funds for the ‘Project Tiger’ conservation program since there are no tigers in the State, Director of Intanki National Park, Aochuba IFS said.

 

The Director said that due to rampant hunting and poaching, the prey base of the tiger has seen a rapid decline which has led to the absence of the big cats in the region.

 

He said that on the department’s request, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had allocated an amount of Rs 10 Lakhs to the park.

 

The director said that, with the allocated funds, a 5-month survey and study of the prey diversity was initiated starting October of this year where they had also installed 38 camera traps. He also said that the findings of the survey will be completed by March to April of 2023.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, a source informed that unknown persons have stolen some of the camera traps set up at Intangki National Park for the “prey diversity and abundance” survey and study. The source informed that 13 camera traps were set up at ‘Grid-1’ of the forest, out of which 5 were found to have been stolen when they went to the spots to retrieve the cameras. Memory cards from two more cameras were also stolen, the source said. The source also said that they have set up 25 more cameras at another area of the forest which they will retrieve soon.

 

Suspecting illegal intruders for the lost cameras, the source observed that illegal hunting, logging and collection of NFTPs will go on and “there will come a time when this National Park will be left with nothing” unless there are sensitization programs and patrolling roads in the forest.

 

“After all these years, we don’t have a proper patrolling road,” he also said, while adding that there is only one vehicle in good condition while sharing some of the problems he observed at Intanki.

 

“There are many more problems and concerned citizens should come forward to keep a check on this to save our only National Park in Nagaland. If maintained properly, it will boost ecotourism and even the livelihood of the fringe villagers,” he said. “And will be a safe haven for the wildlife too,” he added.

 

“It is so discouraging to see high infringements on the National Park,” he remarked.

 

Mokokchung Times 

14 thoughts on “Suspected intruders steal camera traps set up at Intanki National Park”
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