About a dozen cases of wild beast attack on villagers were reported in the last four months alone
Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has decided to set up state's first Tiger Rescue Centre at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve to check growing number of incidence between the majestic predator and mankind.
Forest department officials claimed that as many as half a dozen people were mauled by tiger and leopard in the past one year in Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri and Behraich districts of Uttar Pradesh. About a dozen cases of wild beast attack on villagers were reported in the last four months alone.
Spread in an area of 703 kms in three districts, one of the major problems in areas falling under Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is that there are narrow patches which are only 3 to 5 kms in width. "These narrow patches provide easy access and route to leopards and tigers to enter the human habitat in search of food," said SK Updhyaya, Chief Wildlife Conservator.
The forest department officials have noticed that villages falling under the close vicinity of these low-width narrow patches are more prone to wild beast attack than others. "Majority of attacks took place in these villages in the area," said Updhyaya.
A fear psychosis has prevailed among villagers following spurt in incidence of predator attacks. "We have stopped sleeping outside fearing attack by wild animals. After sunset, no one goes out. Despite complaints, the forest department has done nothing to protect our lives," said Lakhvinder.
The Chief Wildlife Conservator said that the work on solar fencing in an area of about 100 kms has already begin but it will not be that effective since the beast can jump over the fence easily and, moreover, solar fencing will not be effective at night when they chose to enter human habitat.
"Taking into account the uneven geographical boundaries of the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Tiger Rescue Centre is the only effective solution to check predators entering human population," claimed the Chief Wildlife Conservator.
The state government has already sanctioned Rs 3.5 crore to start work on setting up the Tiger Rescue Centre at the earliest in an area of 10 hectares. It has also sought permission from the Supreme Court and the Central Zoo Authority to develop a Tiger Safari in order to minimize incidents of tiger attacks.
The Tiger Rescue Centre will have all facilities to keep 15-20 tigers at a time. It will have team of wildlife experts, a panel of doctors, guards armed with tranqualizing guns, a mini hospital, rest houses, canteen, sheds for keeping tigers etc.
"The main aim of this Rescue Centre would be to catch tigers and leopards before they enter villages and keep them at the centre for rehabilitation before setting them free in Tiger Reserve again," said Updhyaya.
There were about 28 tigers in the forest when Pilibhit Tiger Reserve came into existence in 2008. Now the number has increased to well over 50. "We can increase their population further once the Rescue Centre is set up," claimed the Chief Wildlife Conservator.
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