While the Global Tiger Day is commemorated on Tuesday, environmentalists and wildlife activists in Uttarakhand have stressed on the need for improving wildlife protection and exercising political will for the betterment of wildlife and environment. Uttarakhand, which is home to at least 200 tigers, is believed to be a major target for big cat poachers with various notorious tiger poachers either being nabbed or known to be active in the State.
According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) statistics, of the 63 tiger deaths reported from across the country in 2013, nine were reported from Uttarakhand. This year, so far 34 tiger deaths have been reported from across the nation with four of them being reported from Uttarakhand. Most of the tiger deaths reported from Uttarakhand are suspicious. According to the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) Uttarakhand in-charge Rajendra Agrawal, though the tiger fatalities reported in the State this year are comparatively less than in the previous year, Uttarakhand still remains one of the major targets for big cat poachers. "Apart from the poachers, the big cats are also at risk from the locals who are involved in conflict situations with the tigers. The lack of political will in the State is one of the major reasons for lack of effective steps aimed at further improving the level of wildlife protection in Uttarakhand," he added.
The honourary warden of Corbett tiger reserve, Brijendra Singh believes that tigers are doing fairly well in Uttarakhand though the thrust of the Central Government on development has raised concern about the future of environment and wildlife in the country. "In Uttarakhand, we need solid protection measures and the government needs to sort out its affairs. There is need for appointing a full time chief wildlife warden as the responsibilities of this official require dedicated focus on wildlife issues. Protection needs to be the main focus while also keeping in view the fact that the tiger population also needs protected space. For this it is vital for the Kotri and Dugadda ranges of the lansdowne forest division to be brought under the purview of Corbett so that tigers and other wildlife can freely move between Corbett and Rajaji national park. Apart from focusing on the people living along the periphery of protected forest areas, there is also need for strengthening wildlife protection in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh as tigers from Uttarakhand frequently move to Amangarh and other areas in neighbouring UP," he added.
The 112- member special tiger protection force for Corbett is yet to be formed though department officials state that this will not take long now. About half a dozen notorious tiger poachers including those from the Bawaria community have been caught by the authorities for poaching activities in Uttarakhand this year. Wildlife activists point out that with wildlife security being strengthened in other States with tigers, varied factors continue to attract big cat poachers to Uttarakhand.