PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Ramnagar
Corbett Tiger Reserve, spread across 1,318 square km and globally renowned for its rich biodiversity, has been seeing a surge in human–wildlife conflicts which has left the administration deeply worried. As per a survey conducted, Kalagarh Zone, Plain Zone, Dhikala, Dhela, Dhangarhi and Bijrani have emerged as sensitive hotspots in terms of human-wildlife conflicts. Data indicate that people enter the reserved forest areas to collect firewood and fodder during which they fall prey to wildlife attacks. The senior CTR officers said that over a dozen fatalities have been reported in the last two years.
The CTR’s total area includes around 520 square kilometres of core area and 578 sq km of buffer zone. In the last census, the presence of nearly 260 tigers was recorded in the Corbett National Park area alone. While this reflects the success of conservation efforts, increasing human activities have also heightened the risk of conflict, the wildlife experts said. They further said that aside from tigers, the park houses leopards, elephants, bears, deer, crocodiles, and more than 100 avian species.
The CTR director, Saket Badola stated that most fatalities related to human–wildlife conflict had occurred due to unauthorised entry into reserved forest areas. “The department has repeatedly appealed to the people living in villages adjacent to forests to avoid venturing into the restricted zones and to adopt safer alternatives for collecting firewood and fodder,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Corbett administration has adopted a two-pronged strategy of ensuring safety of local communities from wildlife attacks and the conservation of wildlife. They said they are monitoring things round the clock and conducting awareness campaigns among the villagers living in proximity to the park. “We are leaving no stone unturned to balance things,” said a senior CTR officer.
