Tribal hunting festival evokes lukewarm response

Jamshedpur, Apr 30 (UNI) 'Bishu Shikar'or 'Sendra', the annual tribal hunting festival, in the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary here was today a low-key affair, thanks to tight securtiy arrangements by the forest department and East Singhbhum district administration that saved many wildlife from possible hunting.

Contrary to the tall claims by the Dolma Buru Sendra Samity to go all out for hunting of the animals in the Dalma hills, only four hundreds tribals were seen performing the rituals offering peaceful prayers to Lord Dolma Buru, the forest department sources said.

The forest department had cordoned off all check points to prevent the hunters from entering the sanctuary, home of elephants and many other animals of cat species.

Thousands of tribals from Jharkhand and adjoining Orissa and West Bengal every year take part in the annual event and kill animals including some endangered species.

However, for the past few years the forest department launched awareness campaign in the villages to make people aware about the importance of ecological balance in the wilds.

''It seems our efforts bring results and the adivasis started to understand the value of preservation of precious animals'' said the Ranger of Dalma forest Arjun Badai.

Significantly, Jharkhand's deputy Cheif Minister Sudhir Mahto, who also holds the forest portfolio, had appealed to the tribals to desist from killing wild animals and observe this year's ''sendra'' in a symbolic way.

UNI