14th December 2005
 

On Monday, 12 December, 64 kg of ivory and two motor cycles used by the ivory traders were seized and four people arrested by police at Jashipur in Mayurbhanj District of Orissa with the assistance of the Wildlife Protection Society of India.

Two months ago, WPSI received information that a group of traders in Orissa had stockpiled the ivory. Subsequent investigations were passed on to the police that resulted in the seizure.

Mr. S.K. Palsania, Superintendent of Police, Baripada, Mayburbhanj Distict, led the raiding party. The police surrounded a hotel and took the accused into custody.

Jashipur is strategic place for the illegal ivory trade because of its vicinity to Similpal National Park and Tiger Reserve. An organised poaching network is believed to be very active there. In a recent written reply to a question in the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Orissa, stated that 61 elephants had been killed in the state during the last five years. He said 11 elephants were killed in 2000-2001, followed by 10 in 2001-2002, 16 in 2002-2003, 9 in 2003-2004 and 15 elephants in 2004-2005.