Wildlife Society of Orissa Wildlife Society of Orissa Local tribal members of 60 forest protection committees bordering Simlipal Tiger Reserve were taught forest fire fighting techniques in 2003. During the summer months, fires rage across the sal forests destroying thousands of hectares of prime tiger habitat. Such trained persons were effective in stamping out such forest fires in Simlipal. Every year, Operation Kachhapa keeps a close track of the sea turtle mortality on the Orissa coast.This is done with the active participaton of local turtle groups. We pass on information about turtle mortality and illegal fishing to the concerned enforcement agencies. More than 130,000 dead sea turtles have been counted on the Orissa coast since the last 13 years.  Whole night dramas were staged by us at tribal villages bordering Simlipal Tiger Reserve to spread the message about the need to give up Akhand Shikar or ritualistic mass hunting. These plays were done by local groups in Santhali or Kolha dialects which was effective  to spread the message. About 1,500 to 2,000 people including children watch these shows. The Society distributes basic field equipment like blankets, flashlights,rucksacks, medicines,canes,etc. to field staff of the forest department. Such activity boosts their morale and leads to better field enforcement. Field staff in most wildlife habitats suffer from a terrible shortage of basic field equipment which hampers smooth performance of their duties.