Baripada: Forest officials of the Similipal South Wildlife Division have arrested four alleged poachers who illegally entered the Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district with the intention of hunting wild animals.

According to the Forest Department, the suspects were detected by AI-enabled TrailGuard cameras installed inside the protected forest. Acting swiftly on the real-time alert, an enforcement team, including personnel of the Similipal Tiger Protection Force (STPF), launched an operation and apprehended the accused before any wildlife could be harmed.

During the operation, officials seized two handmade firearms, gunpowder, two head torches and other prohibited items from the accused. The timely intervention prevented a possible poaching incident inside the tiger reserve.

A wildlife offence case has been registered at the Podadiha Wildlife Range. The accused were produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody after their bail petitions were rejected. Further investigation is underway to ascertain whether they were linked to any larger poaching network.

The arrested persons have been identified as:

• Phaguram Tudu alias Phagu (23), resident of Badajunpal village, Podadiha, J.S. Jamudiha GP, Kaptipada police station, Mayurbhanj district.
• Ram Chandra Kisku (56), resident of Badajunpal village, Podadiha, J.S. Jamudiha GP, Kaptipada police station, Mayurbhanj district.
• Ranjan Kisku (26), resident of Badajunpal village, Podadiha, J.S. Jamudiha GP, Kaptipada police station, Mayurbhanj district.
• Biswanath Hansda (65), resident of Sanjunpal village, Chakradharpur GP, Mayurbhanj district.

Forest officials said the successful operation highlights the growing role of AI-based surveillance and coordinated enforcement in protecting wildlife in Similipal, one of India's premier tiger habitats.