The Rajaji national park authorities have started installing camera traps as part of an annual exercise undertaken for keeping an eye on the wildlife and wildlife criminals in the rainy season.
It is worth mentioning here that about 13 tigers are estimated to be living in the national park which the authorities are trying to convert into a tiger reserve. Apart from tigers, Rajaji is also known for its population of elephants, leopards and various other mammals, reptiles, birds and rich biodiversity.
The national park is closed to visitors during the rainy season. With paths either getting damaged or submerged during the rainy season, patrolling by the department staff is hampered.
The poachers and wildlife criminals often try to capitalise on this factor and step up their activities during the rainy season. The national park undertakes an annual exercise of installing camera traps in its ranges-especially the ones with tiger presence.
According to a departmental officer, the installation of the camera trap helps keep track of tiger movement and activities of other wildlife in addition to also being useful for keeping an eye out for intruders.
The camera traps are being installed in Rajaji with the assistance of the Wildlife Institute of India with about 60 being installed so far in different ranges of the national park.