The nation is set to get its 45th Tiger Reserve following the approval of Cabinet of Uttar Pradesh. After the nod for setting up a tiger reserve in Pilibhit, the State will have three such reserves. Dudhwa and Amangarh are the other two.
Pilibhit Reserve will form a key link between the various important tiger reserves in Terai Arc landscape as far as Nepal. As per the 2011 census, there are 35 to 40 tigers in the forest.
The reserve with a total area of 73,024.98 hectares will include the forest ranges of Mala, Mahof, Barahi, Deoria and Haripur which will be developed as consolidated area. The core area will cover 60,279.80 hectares and the remaining 12,745.18 hectares will be notified as buffer. The Kishanganj Sanctuary which forms a part of the nearby Dudhwa Tiger Reserve will form the connecting link between the two tiger reserves of the State.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had given its “in principle” approval for creation of the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve way back in 2008. According to DIG, NTCA SP Yadav, the reserve forms a very important link between Rajaji-Corbett-Dudhwa-Katarniaghat-Suhelwa reserves in Terai-Arc landscape. Pilibhit is also important as it provides vital corridor connectivity with Nepal. After its due notification the protection mechanisms will get a boost with funding support from Project Tiger and will also be under the watchful eyes of NTCA.
This is great news for the tiger. The adjoining Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand was recently notified as another tiger reserve.
Together they will have a compact block of over 1,200 sq km of protected tiger habitat, said Prerna Singh Bindra, former Member, National Board For Wildlife, who has been working with the State forest department on this issue.
Further, Pilibhit is also contiguous to Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in Nepal. This will greatly help consolidate the Shivlaik-Gangetic plains tiger landscape. Other endangered wildlife like hispid hare, Bengal florican, swamp deer, rusty-spotted cat among other species will also benefit greatly.
The experts said much effort has to be given on habitat management of the reserve after it is set up. It is important that there is adequate prey base, so that the big cats do not have to come out of the forest in search of prey. This will minimise the chances of man-animal conflicts in nearby villages.
However, unlike the Dudhwa reserve, there is little human settlement within the Pilibhit forest. Hence relocation of villagers is not warranted here. There is a small village of Mosikpur comprising of 35 families, who are keen on voluntary relocation.