India:Seven poachers were arrested from Similipal reserve forest on Sunday. They have allegedly burnt a vast stretch of forest in a bid to trap animals. They were caught from Kasigudia forest under Bisoi range while going deep inside the forest after setting fire to a stretch of forest area. Bows, arrows and hatchets were seized from them. Deputy Director of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) Ajit Kumar Satapathy said the poachers had entered the forest for mass hunting. “We have arrested more than 50 poachers in the last few months and prevented Akhand Sikar (ceremonial mass hunting of wild animals). Intelligence network has been strengthened,” he said. The forest authorities have also taken precautionary measures to prevent poachers from spreading forest fire to hunt animals. Poachers follow the age-old practice of igniting fire in the forest so that the animals move to other areas and are trapped. Forest fire is normally reported from February to mid-June. According to the Forest Survey of India data, around 50 per cent of the forest area here are fire prone. Apart from poaching, forest fire is also a major cause of degradation of forest in the State. Satapathy said fire fighting teams have been formed to check the fire from spreading and they will be engaged from February 15. (Source : The New Indian Express)