Rairakhol, August 20: Residents of Tutamunda village under Rairakhol block in Odisha’s Sambalpur district have been protecting bats (flying fox) for the last three decades.
Recently, the villagers have formed a committee named flying fox conservation under the banner of Environment and Wildlife Protection Committee to protect the winged mammals.
The villagers believe that bats are auspicious for the village and they protect the residents from evil powers.
Hundreds of bats are seen clinging to the branches of trees." We protect them from undue disturbance. They are not harmful to human beings. The bats have made these trees their habitat for more than 100 years," said Sudhansu Sekhar Chhanda, an activist of the flying fox conservation committee.
The village is prone to flood following construction of Thengo Dam around three decades ago but flood waters have never entered into the village, said centenarian Sachhidananda Chhanda.
Despite all efforts of the villagers, some poachers are targeting the winged mammals for last few months. The poachers are targeting bats in forests for meat. The villagers got to know that some poachers are killing bats at the opposite side of the dam following which they have formed the flying fox conservation committee headed by retired teacher Sudhansu Sekhar Chhanda.
Scores of villagers and Sri Ram women Self-help Group have joined the committee to protect the bats.
