Pakke tiger reserve, community protection.
May, 2007: Protection of the wildlife of Pakke Tiger Reserve (In the north eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh) has improved dramatically following the formation a committee including the heads of sixteen villages.
‘As a result of persistent efforts by the villagers, many poachers have surrendered their illegal arms that were used for killing wild animals in the reserve.’ said Tana Tapi, the Divisional Forest Officer who helped the villagers to form the committee.
In the last six months, 32 illegal country made guns were seized from poachers and many of whom had also promised to work for protection of the reserve; experts are hopeful that repeated seizures would act as deterrent for offenders.
In a significant move in September 2006, heads of sixteen villages had passed a resolution listing various penalties for wildlife violations and following which the villagers have been keeping a strict vigil in the reserve. The 16-member committee has been working for protection of the Pakke Tiger Reserve in conjunction with the forest department.
In the last six months, 32 illegal country made guns were seized from poachers and many of whom had also promised to work for protection of the reserve; experts are hopeful that repeated seizures would act as deterrent for offenders.
In a significant move in September 2006, heads of sixteen villages had passed a resolution listing various penalties for wildlife violations and following which the villagers have been keeping a strict vigil in the reserve. The 16-member committee has been working for protection of the Pakke Tiger Reserve in conjunction with the forest department.
Penalties
Penalties ranging from rupees 200 to rupees 30,000 were imposed, covering 17 different wildlife species. The penalty for poaching an elephant is 30,000 rupees, for a tiger 20,000 rupees and 200 rupees for commercial fishing, although villagers are allowed to catch fish for their own consumption.
‘This initiative will help to strengthen intelligence networks, enforcement activities and creating awareness among people’ Tapi said. The project was started with support from the Project Tiger Fund, and is now supported by the Wildlife trust Of India.
Pakke Tiger Reserve
The 862 sq km, Reserve, is situated in the East Kameng District of the state and is home to many rare and endangered wildlife. Tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, jungle cat, wild dog, jackal, Himalayan black bear, elephant, gaur, sambar, hog deer, barking deer, wild boar, flying squirrel, civets, rhesus macaque etc. are found in the reserve.
‘Encroachments by villagers in the fringe of the park for minor forest produce and illegal hunting threatened the existence of many endangered species. Members of the committee went to each village to sensitize people on wildlife conservation through various activities such as discussions and film screenings.’ Dr. Sandeep Kr. Tiwari, Asst. Manager of WTI who is supervising the project said.
‘Since, people respect the Gaon Burahs (village chiefs) for their wisdom and traditional values, their role is important as they can persuade people to use the natural resources sustainably’ Prof. P. C. Bhattacharjee, of the Guwahati University and a Trustee of Wildlife Trust of India said.
Penalties ranging from rupees 200 to rupees 30,000 were imposed, covering 17 different wildlife species. The penalty for poaching an elephant is 30,000 rupees, for a tiger 20,000 rupees and 200 rupees for commercial fishing, although villagers are allowed to catch fish for their own consumption.
‘This initiative will help to strengthen intelligence networks, enforcement activities and creating awareness among people’ Tapi said. The project was started with support from the Project Tiger Fund, and is now supported by the Wildlife trust Of India.
Pakke Tiger Reserve
The 862 sq km, Reserve, is situated in the East Kameng District of the state and is home to many rare and endangered wildlife. Tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, jungle cat, wild dog, jackal, Himalayan black bear, elephant, gaur, sambar, hog deer, barking deer, wild boar, flying squirrel, civets, rhesus macaque etc. are found in the reserve.
‘Encroachments by villagers in the fringe of the park for minor forest produce and illegal hunting threatened the existence of many endangered species. Members of the committee went to each village to sensitize people on wildlife conservation through various activities such as discussions and film screenings.’ Dr. Sandeep Kr. Tiwari, Asst. Manager of WTI who is supervising the project said.
‘Since, people respect the Gaon Burahs (village chiefs) for their wisdom and traditional values, their role is important as they can persuade people to use the natural resources sustainably’ Prof. P. C. Bhattacharjee, of the Guwahati University and a Trustee of Wildlife Trust of India said.
Dynamite fishing
Village committees in the state help the government to maintain law and order and also have the power to legislate and penalize offenders. Recently, a person in Seijosa was fined with rupees 5000 for fishing by dynamite blasts in Pakke River. The amount was shared amongst the group of women who provided the information.
In the recent past, WTI had initiated several projects for the conservation of wildlife in Arunachal Pradesh. The Center for Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation (CBRC) was set up by WTI and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) with support from the forest department for rescue and release of wildlife.
Save the Hornbill campaign was initiated to protect the bird from poachers who kill them for their beaks, which are then used in making traditional headwear; food grain were supplied to villagers as compensation when crops were destroyed by wild elephants and protection kits were supplied to forest guards who help to keep wild elephants from entering into human habitation.
Courtesy of the Wildlife trust Of India
Village committees in the state help the government to maintain law and order and also have the power to legislate and penalize offenders. Recently, a person in Seijosa was fined with rupees 5000 for fishing by dynamite blasts in Pakke River. The amount was shared amongst the group of women who provided the information.
In the recent past, WTI had initiated several projects for the conservation of wildlife in Arunachal Pradesh. The Center for Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation (CBRC) was set up by WTI and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) with support from the forest department for rescue and release of wildlife.
Save the Hornbill campaign was initiated to protect the bird from poachers who kill them for their beaks, which are then used in making traditional headwear; food grain were supplied to villagers as compensation when crops were destroyed by wild elephants and protection kits were supplied to forest guards who help to keep wild elephants from entering into human habitation.
Courtesy of the Wildlife trust Of India
