Mangrove Smuggling Bust in Bhitarkanika: A Deep Dive into the Forest Heist

In a significant crackdown, forest department personnel in Odisha's Kendrapara district seized around 15 quintals of mangrove roots, deceptively resembling sandalwood, from Bhitarkanika National Park on Friday. The operation led to the arrest of nine individuals, including five women, all accused of illegally entering the protected forest area and felting trees, officials confirmed.

The seized materials included ten quintals of Salacia prinoides roots and stems, locally known as 'Batara', and five quintals of Ceriops decandra roots, called 'Garani'. These were packed into 30 sacks and confiscated from the Kalibhanjadia forest block. Tools used for cutting the mangrove trees were also discovered, further implicating the arrested, said Assistant Conservator Forest (ACF), Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division, Manas Das.

Bhitarkanika National Park, recognized for its rich biodiversity, is home to 55 mangrove species and acts as a natural barrier against cyclones. This incident highlights the ongoing threat to these crucial ecosystems, which face significant pressure from illegal activities aimed at exploiting their valuable resources.