Conservation efforts at India’s Corbett Tiger Reserve – Revival of the tiger: A joint effort, a cultural renaissance

Source: The post conservation efforts at India’s Corbett Tiger Reserve has been created, based on the article “Revival of the tiger: A joint effort, a cultural renaissance” published in “Indian express” on 6th January 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS paper 3- ecology and environment- Conservation

News: The article highlights the successful conservation efforts at India’s Corbett Tiger Reserve, notably the increasing tiger population.

About Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR)

Jim Corbett National Park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park– the first national park in India. It was declared as a Tiger Reserve in 1973. It is the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative.

The CTR is situated in the Shivalik hills of the Himalayas while administratively it spreads over Pauri Garhwal, Nainital and Almora districts of Uttarakhand State in India.

It boasts the highest density of tigers globally, with 260 tigers recorded in 2022, up from 231 four years prior.

What are the reasons for the increase in tiger density in Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR)?

Digital and Intensive Patrolling: Adopting electronic-eye under project E-eye and increasing foot patrols to curb poaching and monitor wildlife movement.

Habitat Management: Meticulous management of grasslands and water resources, including the development of palatable grasses and waterholes, supports the prey base necessary for tigers.

Strategic Corridors: Establishment of wildlife corridors facilitates movement and reduces inbreeding, contributing to healthier tiger populations.

Community Initiatives: Introduction of the “Living with Tigers” initiative and beehive fencing project “Corbee Honey” to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts and promote community involvement in conservation.

Note: The “Living with Tigers” initiative is an awareness program in villages and schools around reserve, focusing on cultivating safe practices and behaviors amidst human-wildlife conflict scenarios.

Cultural Importance: The tiger’s role in India’s religious and mythological iconography has fueled a nationwide drive to conserve it. It led to increased public and political support for tiger conservation initiatives.

What are the challenges in the management of Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR)?

1. Human-Wildlife Conflict- The increasing number of tigers poses challenges in managing human-tiger conflicts and ensuring sufficient territory for each tiger.
2. The protection work is risky, often facing dangers from wild animals. Adequate field staff and ensuring their safety is a constant challenge.
3. Maintaining diverse ecosystems, including 27 types of grasslands and water sources for a robust prey base.
4. Ensuring animal movement and gene pool exchange through corridors is complicated by habitat fragmentation and increasing infrastructure like roads.
5. Balancing tiger conservation with the ecotourism and safety of local communities requires continuous effort and innovative projects like “Living with Tigers.”

What should be done?

1. Boost field staff numbers and safety measures for effective patrolling and incident management.
2. Continue to develop and maintain wildlife corridors and safe animal crossings to ensure healthy gene flow and reduce territorial disputes among tigers, as well as conflicts between tigers-elephants, and humans tigers.
3. Implement a grassroots strategy involving “willing cooperation” from villagers, as emphasized by Salim Ali.

Question for practice:

Examine the initiatives that have contributed to the successful conservation efforts at Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) in India.