Orang National Park. A file picture

Guwahati, July 27: Orang National Park, which has been forced to depend heavily on the army’s expertise to protect its wildlife, will soon have its own forest guards trained in jungle warfare and specialised arms operation to take on poachers and land encroachers.

While training in jungle warfare will be imparted by the army, the Assam police will oversee the specialised arms training.

“Such training is necessary for our rangers going by the vulnerable location of the national park,” the divisional forest official of Orang, Sushil K. Daila, told The Telegraph today.

The park has been witness to violence, with encroachers trying to grab the park land.

A couple of months ago, a forest guard of Orang was allegedly killed by land encroachers.

On May 7, several thousand suspected illegal migrants waded through Dhansiri river carrying house-building materials and swamped Orang National Park in Darrang before being chased away by army and forest guards on elephant backs, who were even forced to fire in the air.

The invaders, who came from various chaporis (sand bars), entered through the park’s southern border and built houses with materials they had brought along.

Forest guards dismantled about 50 houses made of bamboo, constructed during the course of the day.

The raiders had come with their cattle and household articles and certainly had plans to stay.

The 78.81-square km park is also surrounded by villages whose residents have been allegedly involved in poaching.

During a recent raid on villages located on the periphery of the park, forest guards recovered traps used to nail animals and a few body parts.

Daila said around 150 forest guards, both permanent and casual workers, would undergo this special training.

“Eight newly recruited women forest guards will be among the trainees,” the divisional forest official said.

He said the jungle warfare training and specialised arms training are expected to enhance the guards’ confidence in protecting wildlife from poachers and illegal traders.

“Jungle warfare training would also include training in the martial arts,” the divisional forest official said.

The forest department has been forced to enlist the help of the army on a regular basis to conduct operations against poachers and encroachers in Orang. Army personnel also patrol the Brahmaptura which flows along the park.

Just yesterday, they conducted a flag march on the western boundary of the park, with reports of encroachers trying to enter the park.

“We have to take regular help from the army to chase away land encroachers and also to frighten off poachers. Army personnel have also conducted joint operations along with forest guards against poachers in villages located on the periphery of the park,” Daila said.

Despite the odds, the park has witnessed a boost in rhino population, with at least 10 calves being born during the last couple of months.

According to the last rhino census, the park had 64 rhinos.

Two Royal Bengal tiger cubs were also born at Orang a couple of months back.

The park, however, has witnessed the death of 15 Royal Bengal tigers since 2005.