In the latest initiative by Forest Department to protect wildlife, over 50 local people were imparted training to drive away stray wild boars and keep a vigil at night.
"We are engaging locals on an experimental basis during the harvesting season. Animals often stray into fields and ravage standing crops, causing immense loss to farmers. It results in man-animal conflict in human settlements close to the forest areas," said Rajnagar Divisional Forest Officer Manoj Kumar Mahapatra.
"To stop such incidents we have engaged local youths to keep a watch. They will be provided with fire crackers and batons to chase away the boars. They will start work from next month when boars often stray into the fields. The locals will be paid Rs 150 per day," said the DFO.
Earlier, the department had installed shock-inducing solar-powered fencing from Talchua village to Rangani to ward off animals from straying into villages.
The experiment has proved to be a success. However, the entire sanctuary side villages are yet to be covered under the solar fencing programme.