A dedicated company of Armed Police Constabulary, comprising 131 members, will guard the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) around the clock to prevent poaching and wildlife crimes.

The force will function under the leadership of the superintendent of police (SP), Mayurbhanj. This move by the Odisha government is billed as the first of its kind, with an armed police company exclusively being deployed to protect wildlife crimes.

As per the notification issued by the government, the headquarters of the newly dedicated force will be located at Baripada in Mayurbhanj. The forest and environment department will bear all the expenses for this force.

The company will have one commandant, one inspector, three sub-inspectors, three assistant sub-inspectors, 30 havildars, three driver havildars, 87 constables and three drivers.

Former principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), Susanta Nanda, posted on X: “Government of Odisha has created one dedicated Company of Armed Police Constabulary for strengthening of protection measures in Similipal Tiger Reserve, Mayurbhanj. One of its kind in the entire country.”

The force will be provided with well-equipped special patrolling vans. These vans will be deployed to protect the endangered species and their habitats in the STR.

To check the menace of poaching, the authorities have started using artificial intelligence and cameras to provide inputs to the control room. Earlier this week, the authorities arrested six poachers from Similpal using trap cameras.

In 2023, a forester was shot dead by poachers inside the Tiger Reserve, raising concern about the safety of the forest officials as well as animals.