Bhubaneswar, June 9: Maoist activity in Koraput's Jeypore forest division appears to have had a positive impact on the wildlife in the region, specially the leopards. The number of these spotted carnivores in the area has gone up from one to five in the last two years, said senior forest officials.

The recent tiger census in this forest division spread over 1,199sqkm had drawn a blank, but enumerators had spotted at least five leopards - two of them near Bichalkota under Jeypore forest range and three in Boipariguda forest range. The Jeypore forest division comprises Jeypore, Boipariguda, Kundura, Kotpad, Borigumma and Gupteswar forest ranges and extends right up to Chhattisgarh.

"In 2013-14, only one leopard had been spotted in this division. So the results of the recent census that was held between February and April are significant. It's a big jump," said Jeypore divisional forest officer (DFO) A.K. Kar.

The DFO said that the enumerators used both the pugmark and camera trap methods to count the leopards.

He added that Maoist activity instead of being a negative influence was actually a positive factor in this case.

"The presence of Maoists in these forests means less interference of poachers and smugglers, who actually pose a threat to animals," Kar told The Telegraph.

Several areas in Jeypore forest division, including Boipariguda, and Kotpad, have the presence of rebels, who operate both in Koraput and the bordering areas of Chhattisgarh. This includes a wildlife sanctuary located close to Odisha in the Jagdalpur forest division. Kar did not rule out the possibility of leopards from Chhattisgarh sanctuary occasionally venturing into Jeypore forest division.

The officer, however, said tigers were no more seen in the area. "We had tigers here 20 years ago, but there are no reports of tiger sighting since then," said the DFO, who has the responsibility of protecting forests in one of the most dangerous belts of the state.

"Considering the movement of Maoists in these forests, we have to be constantly on our guard. Fear factor also exists and our men have to be extremely careful," said Kar.

Maoist violence continues to affect normal life in Koraput and the neighbouring Malkangiri district where BSF battalions have been deployed to contain rebel activities. On January 8, Maoists had triggered a landmine blast killing a BSF deputy commandant and a jawan in the Kaliajhula forests of Koraput.

This was the second time they had targeted the elite force, the first instance being their attack on a BSF convoy in Koraput's Sunki valley on August 27, 2013, killing four jawans. Sources said the government was planning a special drive against the Maoists in south Odisha with focus on Koraput and Malkangiri.