As many as 118 wild animals, including 106 deer, have been killed by poachers in the past three years, Odisha's forest and environment minister B K Arukha said on Tuesday.
The minister, while replying to a written question by BJP member Madan Mohan Dutta in the Assembly, said 28 deer were killed in 2016-17, 44 the year after and 34 in 2018-19.
During this period, the minister said, six leopards and as many elephants were also killed by poachers.
The forest department has launched several programmes to check poaching, he said.
"An anti-depredation squad and another wildlife protection squad have been engaged to check poaching. A special cell of the Odisha Police has been tasked with handling cases of wildlife crime," Arukha explained.
The state will reward people who inform the administration about wildlife crimes, the minister stated.
"The government has been giving cash prizes to those providing information on poaching and other wildlife crime under the provision of Odisha Reward for Detection of Forest Offences Rule, 2004," he added.
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