150 villagers to form Corbett’s protective shield & assist in fire-fighting
CHANCHAL GOLA | Ramnagar
In an initiative aimed at curbing human-wildlife conflict, the Corbett Tiger Reserve administration has started working towards the formation of a Tiger Protection Force by involving local villagers. This force will comprise 150 villagers who will not only assist the department personnel in wildlife protection but also spread awareness among locals about the importance of conservation.
Since a number of rural settlements border Corbett’s boundaries, incidents of human-wildlife conflict are frequent. In such situations, the Tiger Protection Force will work alongside the Forest department team to provide immediate assistance. Moreover, during the forest fire season, this force will also support forest staff in fire-fighting operations.
Corbett Tiger Reserve director Saket Badola said that the force is being established through the eco development committee. He added that this initiative would serve as a supporting system for the department and further strengthen conservation efforts. Warden Amit Gwasakoti informed that this is the first-ever formation of such a force in Corbett. The members will undergo training in wildlife knowledge, snake handling and other activities related to forest management.
It is pertinent to mention here that according to the 2022 tiger census report, there were 260 tigers in Corbett. Along with the tiger, leopards also thrive in this landscape along with elephants. At the same time, the human population around Corbett has also been rising consistently, creating conditions for rise in human-wildlife conflict.
The formation of the Tiger Protection Force is expected to mitigate the conflict situation. The exact timeline for the formation of the force has not been set yet though the authorities have started working on it and the force is expected to be formed in the near future.
