Alsatian to chase poachers out of Palamu Tiger Reserve

DALTONGANJ: Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) officials are mulling over the idea to chase poachers and timber thieves with the help of Tiger. This Tiger is a trained Alsatian which the PTR has with them. However, Tiger's trainer, Devraj Mahto, said the dog cannot be left in the open as it is capable of harming tourists visiting the PTR.

Field director of PTR, S E H Kazmi is so disgusted by outsiders (not the tourists) roaming in the national park that he wants Tiger to be left in the open. He said, "There is no other way to check this infiltration of men and their cattle inside the park." When told that it may lead to hostility between the wildlife management and local residents he said, "It cannot be denied. But a day will come when order will be restored." The field director referred to Kaziranga where tough handling of outsiders has helped save many a rhinos there.

At a cross section of two roads at the PTR there is a watch tower where seven unarmed trackers keep watch. They spend the night sitting on straw, spread over the upper floor of the watch tower.

One of the trackers said, "Once, we came across thieves with sawing machines for cutting the felled trees in the park. We chased them on foot." He said had Tiger been there chasing the thieves then surely one would have been caught.