Kendrapara, March 23: Forest personnel of Bhitarkanika National Park have taken into custody two active members of a well-knit poaching racket and seized 10kg raw wild boar meat from the protected mangrove forest areas.

The culprits — Panchanan Mandal and Banamali Das confessed that the members of the gang used to trap and kill wild boar and deer.

“Besides the raw meat, hide of the boar, nets and nylon loops used for trapping the animals was seized during a raid at Vektakhol reserve forest block within the core area of the national park. The duo were intercepted from the spot while three of their accomplices managed to flee. They had spread out nylon nets with loops to ensnare the deer and wild boar,” said Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, divisional forest officer, Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest division.

The forest department has intensified vigil on poaching with constitution of anti-poaching squads to keep round-the-clock watch.

Stray cases of wildlife poaching have come to light recently. But the department has resolved to ensure the safety of animals, he said.