Thursday, June 9 2005 13:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Panchmarhi (MP): Authorities of Satpura National Park, a tiger reserve, has decided to set up an intelligence network and strengthen anti-poaching camps.

"Intelligence network is very important to track down poachers. We are considering setting up such a network although incidents of poaching in the park are rare," director of Satpura National Park R P Singh told sources in Panchmarhi.

Strengthening anti-poaching camps was also necessary to tackle poachers, he said.

The park, declared as the Satpura Tiger Reserve in 2000, has between 37 to 40 tigers at present, he said. The park includes the Bori and Panchmari sanctuaries.

To a question, he said there were a few incidents of poaching and those involved in the killing of cheetals have been booked.

Singh said park authorities apprehended that poachers might use Itarsi as the main point to smuggle out animal organs. "We have to keep a watch on a huge area of 1500 sq km covering Hosangabad, Khandwa, Betul."

Regarded as the home of the Indian bison, whose total population is around 3,000, the park also has leopards, wild dogs, black bucks and chinkaras.

A key problem in the national park was relocation of tribal villages. Park authorities said poachers sometimes used the services of poor tribals in hunting animals.

Singh said 23 villages were relocated from the Kanha National Park, also in Madhya Pradesh.

"Satpura has not yet reached the stage for take off. We are in the process of creating habitat for tigers in the park and we need time to create conditions as at Kanha," he said.

The park authorities want three villages shifted from the Bori range and about 14 villages from Bohra range. "Political will is required to rehabilitate these villagers."

The park Director said the authorities had been successful in relocating only one village from Dhain Gaon. If people from Bori and Bohra ranges could be relocated, 70 per cent of the area would be cleared, he said.

The park authorities hoped that if they could rehabilitate some villagers who virtually had no means to earn a livelihood after timber felling was stopped, others would be encouraged to shift to other areas.

The authorities were also against environment pollution caused by mushrooming of hotels in Panchmarhi. "People want free license to open hotels in Panchmarhi but we cannot allow it as it falls under the national park area," Singh said.