Kendrapara, May 13: The forest department has trained those living around the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary for night patrolling to prevent entry of wild animals into the peripheral villages.

Spotted deer and wild boar frequently stray into the villages during the night. The animals target paddy fields, causing extensive damage to standing crops and vegetables. These incidents have led to a rise in man-animal conflict.

"It is not possible on the part of the ground-level forest staff to stop animals from straying into human habitations from the 672sqkm sanctuary area. So, local residents have been engaged in night patrolling," said forest officer of Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) Forest Division Bimal Prasanna Acharya.

More than 50 people living in the peripheral villages, conversant with the topography of the area and aware of the routes that animals follow, have been given the contractual patrolling assignment. Acharya said that these people were doing an excellent job and lending the much-needed support to forest staff in driving away straying wild boars and deer.

Wild boars and deer are generally found raiding the villages during the paddy harvesting season. With consequent crop damage, man-animal conflicts erupt in the villages adjacent to the sanctuary.

The forest department has provided the members of the night patrolling team with firecrackers and batons to chase away the boars and deer. They are also being paid a daily honorarium of Rs 225.

The forest department's night patrolling plan also envisages providing some source of income to the unemployed local youth. Besides, the move will save the paddy fields from being destroyed by the animals.

"We are thankful to the forest department. It has given us the scope to earn," said local resident Nakul Sahu, who is engaged in night patrolling.

Menace unleashed by wild boars assumed alarming proportions during the crop-cutting season in the past few years. Boars were straying into village areas close to the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and were wreaking havoc.

The sanctuary-side villages have also faced frequent crocodile attacks. The reptiles, the famous species of the forest, have been entering the villages off and on and attacking people.