Appreciating the work done in tiger reserves in Uttarakhand, the State Forest and Wildlife Minister Harak Singh Rawat said that in the future all the revenue generated in tiger reserves here will be transferred to tiger reserve foundations for tiger and wildlife conservation. The Minister said this at the meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) which was held at Corbett tiger reserve in Ramnagar on Tuesday. The day was also marked by a programme held to mark the retirement of three trained elephants- the first of its kind occasion in Uttarakhand.
Referring to the importance of wildlife, the Minister stressed on taking all measures for monitoring the protecting wildlife. Speaking at the meeting, the NTCA deputy inspector general Nishant Verma made a presentation on the aspects of tiger and wildlife protection. Chief wildlife wardens of six States and field directors of tiger reserves in 13 states attending the meeting also shared their experiences on the occasion. later, at a programme held to mark the retirement of three trained elephants used to ferry tourists and for patrolling in Corbett, the Forest and Wildlife Minister appreciated the forest department for holding the first such retirement programme for trained wild animals in the State. The Minister saluted Sonkali, Pawanpari and lakshma- the three elephants retired from duty- and fed them bananas and jaggery on the occasion. The Corbett administration had decided in the past to retire the three elephants from duty as they have crossed the age of 65 years. Rawat said that the retired elephants will be kept at Kalagarh and taken care of by the department. The Minister also inaugurated the renovated museum at Dhangarhi on the occasion. The chief wildlife warden Dig Vijay Singh Khati, Corbett director Surendra Mehra, deputy director Amit Verma, divisional forest officer Neha Verma and others were present on the occasion.