Shivamogga: The forest department has deployed trained dogs to safeguard sandalwood plantations from smugglers.
As a result, there has been a drastic decline in sandalwood smuggling cases in the district.
The dogs are being used in four sandalwood plantations in the district. Of them, three are in Shikaripur taluk of Sagar division and one in Shantisagar forest range in Bhadravathi taluk.
Mudhol breed dogs Chandra (male) and Kala (female) have been safeguarding the plantations for the past three years. A dog belonging to the Dobermann breed is guarding the plantation in Bhadravathi taluk.
Forest department sources said the Chandrakala reserve forest, spread over 1,500 acres of land near Ambaragoppa in Shikaripur taluk, has over 26,000 sandalwood trees on 100 hectares of land.
People of Chikkajamburu and neighbouring villages close to the Chandrakala forest were smuggling sandalwood trees in the past. Guarding the precious trees was an uphill task for the guards. That’s when the department decided to avail the services of dogs.
Deputy conservator of forests (DCF, Sagar division) Mohan Kumar told DH that the dogs were very good at sniffing as their noses were super sensitive to scents.
“Our staff will take them around the plantation while they are on perambulation on a daily basis. These dogs will identify intruders and bark if they find any clue,” Kumar said.
They would also detect the movement of humans other than forest department staff. Now, even the local people are aware of the presence of dogs, the DCF said.
“All these factors have contributed to the decline in wood smuggling cases. Earlier, over 10 wood smuggling cases were reported in the region per year. Now, the number has come down to one or two. With rigorous perambulation, wood smuggling cases are likely to end. Besides sandalwood, there are other precious trees also in the reserve forest,” he said.
Forest department sources said initially, these dogs found it hard to cope with the climatic conditions of the region.
With the help of veterinary officers, they got accustomed to this place and were now actively helping the staff in safeguarding the forest, they said.