Bhubaneswar: Himanshu Mohanta, a forest guard of the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) in Similipal, was recognized for his exceptional service to tiger conservation on Global Tiger Day. The Minister of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change presented the felicitation in New Delhi.
He was honoured for his outstanding contributions to tiger conservation.
With a decade of service in the Similipal Tiger Protection Force, Mohanta has established himself as a leader in wildlife conservation. His tireless efforts to protect the Similipal Tiger Reserve’s ecosystem, coupled with his bravery in apprehending poachers, have earned him widespread recognition. His achievements are a testament to his unwavering passion for conservation and his unrelenting commitment to preserving the natural world, sources said.
Under his leadership, the team has achieved outstanding success in combating wildlife crime, apprehending 37 accused in 9 cases and seizing 15 country-made guns, explosives, and other weapons from poachers within a short span of six months. Mohanta’s in-depth knowledge of the local terrain, poaching hotspots, and routes has been instrumental in effectively enforcing anti-poaching measures, sources added.