(IN): Locals motivate poachers to surrender

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Video report link: http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/videos.aspx

 

Text report link:

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*Locals motivate poachers to surrender*

 

Kishalay Bhattacharjee

Tuesday, June 5, 2007 (Manas, Assam)

It has taken a while but efforts to get poachers to surrender have finally

begun to show tangible results.

 

In one of the largest surrenders by poachers -- 11 of them -- who used to

operate in the Manas Tiger reserve, a world heritage site, have sworn never

to poach again. Biren hunted tigers, elephants and other animals.

 

''I was in this profession for past 17 years. Gradually I started to kill

elephants, wild boar, Bison etc and every success used to push me more into

this profession towards bigger animals,'' said Biren Mushahary, former

poacher.

 

He said that bureaucrat and conservationist Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury asked

him to come out of the jungles and see how best there are ways that he can

run a living by forming a society and conserving wildlife instead.

 

*Illegal trade*

 

Choudhury took over as the deputy commissioner in Baksa district two years

back and began working with poachers, motivating them to give up their

illegal trade. He then tested their commitment for a year before their

formal surrender.

 

''It was not just surrender of arms, in fact before that they were also

motivated, so it is something greater than that. This should be a model for

Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand where a lot of community hunting takes place,''

said Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury.

 

Choudhury whose tenure ends this week has also motivated Adivasis to give up

the tradition of *Akhanda Shikhar* after 37 barking deer were killed

recently in one such hunt.

 

However, it is really the NGO Manas Sousikhongkhor Eco Tourism Society

(MSETS) made up of local stakeholders who have brought about this change on

the ground.

 

''Eleven people have surrendered as of now but many more were willing to

come but then where will we engage them after they come to us,'' said Bijoy

Choudhury, president MSETS.

 

Former militants, ex-poachers, school teachers and community leaders have

all joined hands to save their environment. A simple but effective example

of how a community can change things for the better.