Corbett Tiger Reserve authorities issue 'shoot at sight' orders after suspected poacher movement

New Delhi: Poaching, a way of capturing and killing animals and then selling their body parts for money, is a fast growing business and is slowly pushing them to the verge of extinction.

Animals of various species are hunted down mercilessly and brutally killed everyday.

Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR), where the big cats once used to roam around proudly in large numbers, now has just a handful of them remaining, because of cruel practices like poaching.

CTR authorities, however, are taking intense measures to change that once and for all. According to a report in the Times of India (TOI), orders of 'shoot at sight' have been issued to prevent the killing of tigers in the reserve.

The orders were passed following a report which told of suspected poacher movement near the southern boundary of the park.

Officiating in-charge of CTR, Parag Madhukar Dhakate, told TOI that the step has been taken for "protection of wildlife, especially tigers".

The stringent anti-poaching measures don't just involve the shoot-at-sight orders, but also include other steps like barring villagers in the vicinity from entering the protected area and subjecting visitors to the park to extensive frisking, the report said.

Furthermore, talking to TOI, Dhakate also added that to protect wildlife in the tiger reserve two drones and 150 forest frontline staff have also been deployed. To keep an eye on the park which has a population of 164 tigers, over 388 camera traps have been set up and sharp shooters equipped with night vision goggles have been put on duty.

The park witnesses over 1,000 visitors on an average daily and will remain open to tourists in all five zones – Jhirna, Bijrani, Dhikala, Dhela and Durgadevi.

However, "...tourists are informed that they will face strict frisking, which they should cooperate with," Dhakate said.