The Corbett Tiger Reserve administration and Forest officials have launched Operation Monsoon to check illegal activities like poaching, wood smuggling during the rainy season when tourism is restricted.

Each year, Operation Monsoon begins from July 1 to October 30. This year as the rain was a bit late, the operation was delayed accordingly. A team of over 300 securitymen drawn from different organisations including Tiger Protection , area forest division among others would be involved in the three- month long drive.

In view of the dense forests, poor visibility during the day time in the rainy season, the CTR administration has deployed digital cameras at strategic locations in and around the Corbett reserve, said D S Rawat, Park Warden, while talking to The Pioneer , adding that in Kalagarh dam area to keep a vigil on suspicious movements boats have been deployed.The enforcement agencies will also use GPS system during combing operation. Elephant services will be utilized to reach areas where there are no motorable roads.

During the rainy season the roads get damaged making it difficult to reach far-flung areas. Landslides also restrict mobility during this period. So our main challenge in these circumstances is how to procure ration and other essential commodities for forest guards and other officials deployed in remote and tough areas. So it is vital to use the services of elephants for transportation purposes , Rawat added.

Spread across 1288.32 square kms the CTR is divided into three important parts including Corbett National Park, Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserve Forest. All areas are highly vulnerable to anti-wildlife activities. The main rivers flowing through the Reserve including Ramganga, Sonanadi, Mandal and Palain have been used as escape routes for the poachers and smugglers. So the CTR administration has also deployed boats to catch them.

The CTR administration has to be extra cautious particularly in Dhikala zone which remains open for the public between November 15 and June 15 and Bijrani ,Sonanadi and Domunda zones( which was open between October 15 and June 30 ) ,though the Jhirna zone remains open for public round the year tourist traffic help keep vigil on anti-wildlife elements.

The fact is that with rapid urbanisation in recent years small animals which are hunted for consumption are out of public glare.