Despite Rajaji Tiger Reserve being declared the second tiger reserve of Uttarakhand after Corbett Tiger Reserve on April 20, 2015, the much- needed efforts to help the tigers spread evenly in both the eastern and western parts of the reserve are lacking. If efforts are made to make Gohri and Shyampur ranges of RTR free from human encroachments the tigers can breed and stay well in the western parts too, say the wildlife experts.
The present extended area of Rajaji Tiger Reserve is spread over 1075 square kms. Geographically, the Park extends over the Shivalik Range from the Dehradun-Saharanpur road in the north-west to the Rawasan river in the southeast, with Ganga dividing it into two parts. Ganga bifurcates the park into two parts: the eastern part, consisting of the Chilla and Gohri ranges that stretches from the left bank of the Ganges to Rawasan river in the east and Shyampur Range of Hardwar Forest Division to the South. The northern boundary of the eastern portion of the Park is defined by laxmanjhula beat of Gohri range of the park.
The western part of the Park consists of the Ramgarh, Kansrao, Motichur, Hardwar, Dholkhand and Chillawali ranges.
Things are that while the western parts showed the presence of just two tigresses in the first two months of the year the eastern part registered a sizeable number of 32 tigers in the camera traps.
Explaining the reason behind less number of tigers in the western part, wildlife expert Bivash Pandav who is working on the conservation of tigers told The Pioneer, “Tigers are breeding well in Chillawali range since many of the Gujjars have been evacuated. However, Gohri and Shyampur ranges require many things to be done. The human –animal conflict is still persisting which is not letting the tigers settle. The tigers are moving from Chillawali to Shyampur range but unable to settle themselves owing to the fear of Van Gujjars. More efforts are needed on the part of forest officials to make the tigers settle themselves in Gohri range.”
Speaking to The Pioneer, director of Rajaji Park and Reserve Neena Grewal said, “Efforts are on to prod the Van Gujjars to move out, but 13 families are still left who refused to take the package. They have occupied the banks of the river which is hindering the tiger settlements in the area. This despite the fact that the area is rich in prey base of cheetal and sambhar. In Chillawali forest range, however, we have been successful in the evacuation of 50 families last month. We hope to vacate the rest of them soon.”