Bhubaneswar: Anjali Topno, a daring woman of Christanpada village in Odisha’s Debrigarh sanctuary area, is proud to be part of the Debrigarh Enforcement unit. She feels financially independent and empowered, earning for her family and contributing to the protection of the Debrigarh Sanctuary.
“I am happy that no more anyone will show me sympathy for being a woman, rather all will look at me with pride,” she said.
Anjali initially found the physical training and patrolling difficult, but after three months of practice, it has become her life’s mission to protect Debrigarh and motivate rural populations to safeguard the forest. The sanctuary has a multi-layered enforcement team, including forest patrols, specialised tiger monitoring teams, and community-based patrols, using technology like camera traps and metal detectors.
The Debrigarh Sanctuary is a vital conservation area, home to over 40 species of mammals, 234 species of birds, and 41 species of reptiles. The sanctuary’s efforts have led to a significant increase in wildlife, including the Indian bison population. The sanctuary also generates revenue through eco-tourism, earning Rs 5 crore in 2024-25.
Debrigarh Sanctuary has a multi-layered enforcement team, including regular forest patrols and community-based patrols. They use technology like camera traps, metal detectors, and live wire detectors, working with dedicated officers and sometimes collaborating with state and national agencies for anti-poaching efforts and crime prevention.
