The State Government to award gold medal to Pandurang Pakhale, Range Forest Officer (RFO), Gorewada Project, in Wildlife Protection Category from Nagpur in 2020.
Pakhale is a dedicated protector of forest and wildlife, who is known to be responsible for initiating the arrest of 12 poachers for apparently poaching two tigers and seizing tiger’s body parts, including 12 kg bones and nails in Pench Tiger Reserve.
As per sources, Pakhale also cracked Pangolin poaching racket in Pench tiger reserve during his tenure.
He also bravely faced many cases for his attempt of punishing the culprits.
Pakhale has filed around 15 preliminary offence reports and booked approximately 57 wildlife crimes.
Besides Pakhale, forester Nileshwar Wadighare will also be awarded with the silver medal in this category for this year.