A Deputy Range Forest Officer, who served to break the back of poaching and smuggling rackets at Kali Tiger Reserve, was selected as one of the recipients of the Green Warriors’ Award instituted by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Chandrakant Naik, whose work in Uttara Kannada, included busting a Bull Frog smuggling racket, collected the award on Thursday.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah commended the officer, and took to Twitter to say: “I congratulate Forest Officer Chandrakant R. Naik for this distinction! His efforts to preserve our rich ecological heritage are commendable.”

Mr. Naik developed a reputation of tireless protection work during his stint in Kulgi and Kumbarwada Wildlife Ranges of the then Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve. A release said, he not only confronted the poaching and timber mafia, but also emphasised outreach activities that saw poachers changing their profession.

It was in 2012 that he played a crucial role in busting the Bull Frog smuggling racket.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Staff Reporter / Bengaluru – October 27th, 2017