Balasore, Aug. 23: A new force has swung into action to protect the big cat in Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district.

The Similipal Special Tiger Protection Force will assist the regular forest staff in tackling poachers as well as timber smugglers in the reserve forest. It would function with Central assistance under Protect Tiger Project.

However, wildlife activists felt the new force would not serve any purpose unless regular guards, preferably aged below 30, were appointed. About seven posts of assistant conservators of forest and five of range officers along with other guards and foresters are lying vacant.

After the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) sanctioned creation of the new force with 112 personnel, the state forest and environment department deputed foresters and forest guards from territorial divisions.

So far, 17 foresters and 45 forest guards pooled from different divisions of Mayurbhanj have joined work.

“Those from Baripada, Karanjia, Rairangpur and Similipal Tiger Reserve Division have been deputed for the force,” said Baripada regional chief conservator of forest Anup Nayak.

“The recruitment process is on. A total of 108 persons would be recruited. They would function under the supervision of three range officers and an assistant conservator of forest,“ said deputy director of Similipal Tiger Reserve Bikash Ranjan Dash.

Bhanoomitra Acharya, an honorary wildlife warden of Mayurbhanj, said: “The tiger reserve is in a pathetic state due to lack of manpower. Pooling in personnel from other forest areas would not help. The state government should take immediate steps to fill up the vacancies and recruit regular staff since the funding would come from NTCA.”

Sanjukta Basha, another honorary wildlife warden, echoed his views.

“The new force would patrol the core area only twice a week. What about the rest of the week? The state government should take steps to address these issues,” she said.