The Odisha government has allowed forest officers at circle level to access call details, tower dump data and live tracking of persons suspected to be involved in wildlife offences.
The decision, first of its kind, has been taken to empower forest officials to go after poachers and wildlife traders in the State. Recently, field level forest officials had undergone arms training to deal with organised wildlife poachers in deep forests.
“The government has allowed forest officers at circle level to access call details, tower dump data and live tracking wildlife crime suspects. Whenever required, superintendents of police have been asked to facilitate this as per requisition,” said S. K. Popli, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) on the sidelines of celebration of State level Wildlife Week 2023.
