The Close Circuit Cameras installed in Indrawati Forest Reserve have brought smiles to the faces of wildlife conservation officials in Chhattisgarh by capturing the pugmarks of at least five big cats in the vicinity of this picturesque Tiger Reserve spread in 1,200 square kilometre. Now, the officials are busy in validating the evidences found regarding presence of tigers in Bastar area.
Notably, for the last some years forest employees in Bastar region were not able to show their activities due to some or the other reasons including insurgency and that’s why they had hardly any proven/unproven records regarding presence of tiger in the Indrawati Tiger Reserve.
However, following the recent tiger census work launched in the country in which double validation method – pugmark and DNA sampling – was adopted, these forest employees were engaged in collection of tiger scats as also more than 15 CC cameras were installed in the 1200 square km park area to capture the movements of Big wild cats. Though the employees were not much convinced about success in collection of tiger scats as they feared large scale poaching of tigers under the auspices of Maoist insurgents who made the park their virtual abode, the CC Cameras finally brought the success and cheers to their faces. At least 3 CC cameras installed in Bhairamgarh area were stolen by forest thieves or unknown criminals.
Confirming the findings, conservator of forest (wildlife) V Ramaram said the department is trying to solicit the trust of local people and involve them in the wildlife conservation drive as the department has decided to set up a number of points in the project area for regular supply of feeds to the Big cats and thereby ensure public participation in conservation activities.
Meanwhile, the department is trying to install CC cameras afresh not only to keep a tab on the movement of poachers in the Project area but also to validate the presence of Tigers.